This Jeff Bezos-Backed AI Tool Can Replace Search Engine For Many People, Says Top Ex-Googler — But 'There's A Catch'

Jeff Bezos-backed AI tool Perplexity has a new fan – a top ex-Googler. Kubernetes developer Kelsey Hightower thinks Perplexity AI will replace search engines like Google one day.

What Happened: Influential tech personality, Kelsey Hightower, recently tried out Perplexity AI and expressed his enthusiasm for its potential on X, formerly Twitter. He even claimed it might replace traditional search engines for certain users.

I finally got a chance to play with @perplexity_ai and I can see how this is going to replace search engines for some people. Instead of a bunch of links, you get answers, and the sources they were derived from.

Best part, no ads, but I'm sure that won't last forever. pic.twitter.com/usip2uvCIH

— Kelsey Hightower (@kelseyhightower) March 1, 2024

Hightower compared using Perplexity AI to reading the CliffsNotes while equating Google Search to reading the index at the back of a book. He thinks many users will find it easier to use CliffsNotes instead of reading the index.

See Also: Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Uses These AI Tools ‘Almost Every Day’ For Research

However, Hightower notes a possible drawback: the user’s need to trust Cliff.

Using Google Search is like reading the index at the back of the book. Using Perplexity AI is like reading the CliffsNotes.

There is a catch, you gotta trust Cliff.

— Kelsey Hightower (@kelseyhightower) March 1, 2024

Perplexity calls itself the “world’s first conversational answer engine” instead of a simplistic AI chatbot like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini.

Instead of surfacing search results, Perplexity AI delivers formatted answers complete with sources. Because of this, there is a degree of trust involved here.

It also lets users discover the news and current affairs that its rivals, ChatGPT and Gemini, lack. It also allows users to choose between different AI models like GPT-4, Claude 2.1, or Perplexity itself, but that is part of its “Pro” subscription that costs $20 per month or $200 per year.

Why It Matters: Hightower’s endorsement comes on the heels of Nvidia Corp. CEO Jensen Huang revealing that he uses Perplexity AI "almost every day" for research purposes.

The tool, which leverages Nvidia hardware, offers a unique approach to information retrieval by providing direct answers instead of a list of links, as seen in conventional search engines.

Perplexity AI could also come pre-installed on Carl Pei's upcoming Nothing Phone 2a. Hightower’s tweet could further boost its popularity, particularly among users seeking a more efficient, ad-free search experience.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of Benzinga Neuro and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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