Perplexity AI has initiated its U.S. rollout of advertisements in the form of “sponsored follow-up questions.” These ads appear alongside AI-generated answers without altering the core information, utilizing a CPM pricing model. The strategy includes a revenue sharing program to support publishers and ensures subscription sustainability.
The advanced search engine, Perplexity AI, has informed its clients of a strategic decision to start testing advertisements on its platform. Aimed at achieving long-term subscription sustainability while monetizing the search engine, these tests are designed to proceed without compromising the user experience. Beginning this week, advertisements will appear in certain user searches as part of the initial U.S. rollout and will be clearly marked as sponsored content.
Within the advertisement segments, the company is introducing unintrusive formats known as "sponsored follow-up questions." These appear to the side of the main interaction area, helping users get acquainted with an advertiser’s offerings without interfering with the primary query box. In its blog, Perplexity addressed the potential friction of ads, stating that advertisers cannot influence the core search experience. While the questions are paid for, the subsequent AI-generated answers are produced objectively by the AI, keeping the integrity of the answer distinct from the advertiser’s narrative.
Partnering with major brands and agencies such as Indeed, Whole Foods Market, Universal McCann, and PMG, Perplexity is adopting CPM pricing for these placements. Furthermore, the company seeks to foster a healthy ecosystem by providing a revenue sharing program with its publisher partners for content appearing in response to queries. As of today, this feature is live for users in the United States, representing a proactive shift in revenue generation policies that still protects the essence of search engine results.
