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WHAT’S AT STAKE TODAY ⚡
- Perplexity reportedly raised $200M at $20B valuation 💰
- Intel's chief executive of products departs among other leadership changes 👔
- Ex-Google X trio wants their AI to be your second brain — and they just raised $6M to make it happen 🧠
- AI gaming startup Born raises $15M to build 'social' AI companions that combat loneliness 🎮
- RSS co-creator launches new protocol for AI data licensing 📡
- After selling to Spotify, Anchor's co-founders are back with Oboe, an AI-powered app for learning 🎵
- Anthropic reports outages, Claude and Console impacted ⚠️
- OpenAI and Oracle reportedly ink historic cloud computing deal ☁️
Perplexity raises $200M at $20B valuation, challenging Google's search dominance.
Perplexity reportedly raised $200M at $20B valuation
Perplexity, the AI-powered search startup challenging Google's dominance with conversational search capabilities, has raised $200 million in fresh funding at a $20 billion valuation, according to The Information. This latest investment round marks a significant milestone for the three-year-old company, representing an 11% increase from its previous $18 billion valuation achieved just two months earlier in July.
The rapid succession of funding rounds highlights investor confidence in Perplexity's growth trajectory and market potential. The July financing, which raised $100 million according to Bloomberg, was reportedly an extension of a larger $500 million round completed earlier in the year at a $14 billion valuation. That previous round was led by venture capital firm Accel, though the leader of the current $200 million round remains undisclosed.
Since its inception, Perplexity has accumulated an impressive $1.5 billion in total funding according to PitchBook data, positioning it among the most well-capitalized AI startups in the current market. This substantial war chest reflects the company's ambitious goal of disrupting the traditional search market dominated by Google.
The startup's financial performance appears to justify investor enthusiasm. According to sources familiar with the company, Perplexity's annual recurring revenue (ARR) is approaching the $200 million mark. This represents substantial growth from the $150 million ARR figure disclosed by the company's head of communications just last month, indicating strong momentum in user adoption and monetization.
Perplexity differentiates itself from traditional search engines by offering conversational answers to user queries rather than simply providing links to relevant websites. This approach leverages advanced AI technology to synthesize information from multiple sources and present users with direct, contextual responses to their questions. The model represents a fundamental shift in how people might interact with search technology in the future.
The company has been particularly bold in its challenge to Google's search monopoly. In August, Perplexity made headlines by offering to acquire Google's Chrome browser for $34.5 billion. This audacious proposal came in response to the U.S. Justice Department's antitrust case against Google, where federal prosecutors alleged anticompetitive behavior and proposed forcing the tech giant to divest its popular web browser.
The Chrome acquisition offer demonstrated Perplexity's strategic thinking about how to accelerate its growth and gain market share. Chrome's massive user base and default search integration would have provided Perplexity with immediate access to billions of search queries and a direct path to challenge Google's core business.
However, the regulatory landscape shifted when a federal judge ruled earlier this month that Google would not be required to break up its search business. This decision effectively allows Google to retain ownership of Chrome, closing off what could have been a transformative acquisition opportunity for Perplexity.
Despite this setback, Perplexity's continued ability to raise capital at increasing valuations suggests investors remain optimistic about the company's prospects. The AI search market is still in its early stages, with significant room for innovation and growth. As users become more accustomed to conversational AI interfaces, Perplexity's approach may gain broader adoption.
The company's rapid revenue growth and successful fundraising occur against a backdrop of intense competition in the AI space. Major tech companies including Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are all developing competing conversational search capabilities, making execution and user acquisition critical for Perplexity's long-term success.
With $200 million in new funding and approaching $200 million in annual recurring revenue, Perplexity is well-positioned to continue its challenge to traditional search paradigms. The company's ability to maintain its growth trajectory and convert its technological advantages into sustainable market share will determine whether it can truly disrupt one of the internet's most established and profitable sectors.
Perplexity did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the latest funding round.
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Intel announces major leadership changes under new CEO Lip-Bu Tan.
Intel’s chief executive of products departs among other leadership changes
Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan continues reshaping senior leadership with major changes announced Monday. Michelle Johnston Holthaus departs after 30+ years as products CEO, remaining as strategic adviser. The company creates a central engineering group for custom silicon business, led by Srinivasan Iyengar from Cadence Design Systems. Kevork Kechichian joins from ARM to head data center operations, while Jim Johnson becomes client computing group manager. These moves follow recent U.S. government plans to convert grants into 10% Intel stake, contingent on maintaining foundry ownership above 50%.
⚡ More AI Bites
- 🧠💰 Ex-Google X trio wants their AI to be your second brain and they just raised $6M to make it happen. Neural network meets human network!
- 🐧💕 Born, maker of virtual pet Pengu, raises $15M to launch a new wave of social AI companions. Digital pets get social superpowers!
- 📡🤖 RSS co-creator launches new protocol for AI data licensing. Feed technology meets AI data rights!
- 🎓📱 After selling to Spotify, Anchor's co-founders are back with Oboe, an AI-powered app for learning. Podcast pioneers pivot to education!
- ⚠️☁️ Anthropic reports outages, Claude and console impacted. AI assistant takes a coffee break!
- 🤝☁️ OpenAI and Oracle reportedly ink historic cloud computing deal. AI powerhouse meets database dynasty!
🎙️ NEW EPISODE DROP:
The Future of Human + AI Collaboration | What are The Smarter Ways to Use AI
I sat down with Dimitriy Wolf — social engineer, psycholinguist, and advisor to presidents, sheikhs, and TEDx speakers — to break down why most people use AI wrong.
We covered how to think *with* AI (not just prompt it), how to build authentic brand voices, and what yachts have to do with artificial intelligence.
If you're still using ChatGPT like a search bar — you're getting left behind.
⚡ Trends for the Future
Google’s former security leads raise $13M to fight email threats before they reach you
Former Google executives launch AI-powered email security startup with autonomous agents.
As AI increasingly empowers hackers to launch sophisticated email attacks, a new startup called AegisAI has emerged from stealth with $13 million in seed funding to combat this growing threat. Co-led by Accel and Foundation Capital, the company was founded by former Google security executives Cy Khormaee and Ryan Luo, who previously led teams protecting billions of users from phishing and malware.
The timing is critical, as more than 90% of successful cyberattacks begin with phishing emails according to CISA. Recent research shows that AI-generated phishing messages achieved a 54% click-through rate in 2024, dramatically higher than the 12% rate for human-written emails. This alarming trend has created an urgent need for more sophisticated defense mechanisms.
AegisAI's solution centers on autonomous AI agents that work together in an orchestrated network to inspect, analyze, and neutralize email threats in real-time. Unlike traditional email security platforms that rely on static rules, these agents operate without predetermined rulesets and continuously adapt to new threats.
Khormaee, who spent over five years as head of product at Google leading security initiatives for Safe Browsing and reCAPTCHA, brings deep expertise to the challenge. He describes the approach as using reasoning agents, each custom-built for specific threats. When the orchestrating agent detects a potential threat, it calls upon other specialized agents in the network to collaborate on analysis and reach a verdict.
The system performs comprehensive real-time analysis of every email component, including links, attachments, metadata, QR codes, and behavioral patterns. Currently operating with over 10 agents, Khormaee anticipates expanding to 50-100 agents as adversaries become more sophisticated.
Implementation is remarkably simple, requiring just five minutes to install via API on Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 accounts. The system then provides detailed reports within days and operates in read-only mode before activating quarantine features. AegisAI claims to reduce false positives by up to 90% compared to traditional solutions.
With offices in San Francisco and New York, the six-person startup is currently piloting with customers across the U.S. and Europe, including three paying customers like data privacy firm Lokker and crypto platform Mesh Connect. The fresh funding will support technical expansion and go-to-market infrastructure development.
⚡ You’re Smart. Strategic. Intentional. So Let’s Be Real:
Where Are You Holding Back— On Purpose?
Every smart operator has something they’re intentionally avoiding.
Not because they’re lazy — but because it’s risky, unknown, or just... a bit *uncomfortable*.
So what’s that thing for you?
That one decision, move, or experiment you know would push you forward — but you’ve been choosing not to do it.
Tell us — and we’ll share a tactical POV or tool to help you rethink it.
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AI will be humanity's most transformative ally, helping us unlock creativity and problem-solving capabilities we never knew we possessed.
Jacinda Ardern is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand who gained international recognition for her compassionate leadership style and innovative policy approaches to complex social and economic challenges. Her emphasis on wellbeing economics and inclusive governance has influenced political leaders worldwide, and she continues to advocate for using technology and AI to create more equitable societies that prioritize human flourishing alongside economic progress.
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🎬 How to Use AI Agents to Build High-Converting Video Ads
Build once. Scale everywhere. In just minutes.
What if: Instead of spending weeks scripting, editing, and testing ads… you could build 10 variations of a high-converting video in 15 minutes — with agents handling the voiceover, visuals, call-to-action, and even the hook testing?
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- 📦 Works for Any Product: Digital or physical — agents adapt to your niche & brand voice.
📅 Join the Live Session w code Supercharged
We’ll walk you step-by-step through building your own ad-generating agent — no code needed.
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You’ll leave with a working prototype, free templates, and 5x more speed in your next ad campaign.
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Episode 1: AI Education Without Limits
I sat down with Dr. José Fernández from the Miami Dade College AI Center to explore how AI is transforming education.
We discussed how students today can access world-class AI training with almost zero student loan debt — making innovation more accessible than ever.
Episode 2: What if your story were your sales strategy?
I sat down with Maury Rogow, a Hollywood producer and branding mastermind behind $2.5B in brand growth.
We talked about why the brands that feel effortless aren’t the loudest — they’re just the most aligned.
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The Supercharged is aiming to be the world's #1 AI business magazine and is on a mission to empower 1,000,000 entrepreneurs worldwide by 2025, guiding them through the transition into the AI-driven creative age. We're dedicated to breaking down complex technologies, sharing actionable insights, and fostering a community that thrives on innovation, to become the ultimate resource for businesses navigating the AI revolution.
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