AI Search Engine Perplexity Hits New Heights with 780 Million Queries in May

In a remarkable display of growth, AI search engine Perplexity reported a staggering 780 million queries in May, according to CEO Aravind Srinivas. Speaking at Bloomberg’s Tech Summit, Srinivas highlighted that the AI platform has been experiencing a consistent growth rate of over 20% month-over-month.

“If this momentum continues, we could easily reach a billion queries each week within a year,” Srinivas asserted, emphasizing the impressive trajectory since its inception, when the platform first reported just 3,000 queries in a single day back in 2022. Today, it averages around 30 million queries daily, marking significant strides in user engagement.

Srinivas attributes much of this growth to the forthcoming launch of a new web browser named Comet. He elaborated that this browser aims to redefine how users interact with search technologies. “If users are engaged in the browser, we achieve infinite retention. Every interaction, every query initiated leads to deeper engagement with our platform,” he explained.

By creating a more integrated experience, Perplexity is not just about delivering answers but is on a mission to perform actions on behalf of users, effectively transforming user interfaces into proactive systems.

“You can think of it as getting an entire browsing session accomplished with a single prompt, rather than multiple searches,” Srinivas stated, providing insight into the browser’s intended functionality. This shift represents a fundamental rethinking of traditional browsing, positioning AI as a natural extension of users’ online activities.

According to Srinivas, the goal with Comet is to evolve the concept of a browser from simply a utility to a cognitive operating system that seamlessly integrates into everyday life. It will support users in various contexts—whether for work or leisure—acting as a responsive sidekick in their digital journeys. This approach aligns with the observation that much of our lives increasingly unfold online, suggesting that a personalized, proactive AI presence is essential to enhancing online experiences. While specific launch details for Comet remain undisclosed, Srinivas teased that an announcement could come in the weeks ahead, likely catalyzing a new wave of innovation in AI-powered browsing.