The AI search engine aiming to challenge Google, Perplexity, has announced a partnership with SoftBank, leveraging this deal to expand its presence in Japan’s market.
This collaboration includes SoftBank’s mobile operations, Y!mobile and LINEMO, offering complimentary one-year subscriptions to Perplexity Pro starting June 19.
This move showcases Perplexity’s global ambitions and focus on monetizing its premium tier, while also highlighting the appeal for companies like mobile carriers to tap into AI services without extensive internal resources.
The partnership not only attracts users interested in advanced AI capabilities but also presents opportunities for revenue growth and potential collaborations on AI-driven services with SoftBank.
Besides SoftBank, Perplexity has also partnered with Germany’s Deutsche Telekom, signaling its international reach and strategic alliances with major telecommunications players.
While details about investment from carriers remain unclear, SoftBank’s emphasis on AI is evident, with its Vision Fund exploring various AI startups and CEO Masayoshi Son’s plans for a significant AI chip venture. This aligns with SoftBank’s broader initiatives in AI, such as SB Intuitions, its Japanese-language Large Language Model venture.
Hiroyuki Terao, Executive Vice President and Head of the Consumer Business Promotion Unit at SoftBank Corp. said, “Regardless of age or gender, we would like to take action based on SoftBank’s corporate philosophy of harnessing the Information Revolution to make people happy and expand the use of AI to enrich everyone’s lives.”
Perplexity, valued at $1 billion post-funding, offers a subscription-based service, Perplexity Pro, granting users access to advanced features like selecting large language models for tailored searches, image generation, and AI-powered search customization.
The collaboration with SoftBank underscores Perplexity’s strategic growth approach and its appeal to users seeking sophisticated AI solutions, marking a significant step in its international expansion efforts.
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