Perplexity AI

Perplexity

Research Seo

AI-powered research and answer engine with sourced, cited answers — and now the first viable AIO (AI Optimization) advertising channel. Sponsored Questions launched January 4, 2026 for US users: brands like Whole Foods and Indeed pay to insert Sponsored Follow-Up Questions into AI answers. When someone asks about project management tools, a sponsored follow-up like 'How does Asana compare for distributed teams?' appears — branded AI answer included. Self-serve access coming Q1-Q2 2026. User base skews high-income professionals, making this prime for B2B.

Pricing: Free | Pro $20/month | Sponsored Questions: partner pricing now, self-serve Q1-Q2 2026

Best For

  • Content research with cited, verifiable sources
  • Fact-checking and competitive analysis
  • B2B brands wanting high-intent advertising when self-serve launches
  • Early movers establishing AI search presence before Q2 2026 crowding
  • Industry trend research with up-to-date sourced answers

Q'dUp Pro Tip: Search your key business topics in Perplexity now — see what answers appear and where your brand could add value. When the self-serve ad platform launches, you'll already know exactly which Sponsored Questions to buy. If you're spending on high-intent Google Ads keywords, set aside 10% of that budget to test Perplexity Sponsored Questions when it opens. This is the new Google Ads for AI-native search.

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Tags

researchsearchcitationsfact-checkingaioadvertisingsponsoredb2b