Perplexity Targets 2028 IPO as CEO Says Anthropic, OpenAI Listings Won't Alter Plan
Updated
Updated · CNBC · Jun 9
Perplexity Targets 2028 IPO as CEO Says Anthropic, OpenAI Listings Won't Alter Plan
3 articles · Updated · CNBC · Jun 9
Summary
Perplexity plans to go public in 2028, CEO Aravind Srinivas told CNBC, framing the date as fixed rather than contingent on how other AI mega-IPOs perform.
Anthropic's confidential IPO filing last week and OpenAI's reported listing plans prompted the comments, though Srinivas said weak debuts could still send ripple effects across the sector.
SpaceX's IPO this week will be a leading indicator for investor appetite, he said, as markets test whether buyers will support some of the biggest listings in history.
Srinivas defended the lofty valuations of Anthropic and OpenAI, saying frontier labs merit premiums unless model progress stalls for six months or more.
On AI spending, he said enterprise buyers are becoming cost-conscious, with Perplexity routing tasks to cheaper open-source models when they can handle 90% of the job.
With most enterprise AI projects failing, can Perplexity's free model justify its ambitious 2028 IPO plan?
Is Perplexity's cost-saving AI a true threat to giants, or a niche player in a winner-take-all market?
Perplexity’s $22.6B Valuation and Post-2028 IPO: Charting an Independent Course in the AI Search Race
Overview
Perplexity is making waves in the AI sector by choosing an independent path and committing to a post-2028 IPO, even as the industry sees a surge in public offerings. Led by founder Aravind Srinivas, who has dismissed concerns about financial instability, Perplexity is building momentum with strong enterprise adoption and a user base exceeding 100 million. By focusing on news and search, the company has carved out a unique niche in the AI app market. This strategy positions Perplexity to capitalize on its growth and stand out among AI giants preparing for earlier IPOs.