Perplexity Expands Publisher Program Amid Controversy
AI-powered search engine Perplexity is broadening its publisher program, adding news outlets like the LA Times, Adweek, and Mexico News Daily. Publishers will receive ad revenue and performance metrics, but the move has sparked controversy due to a lack of transparency with newsroom staff.
Key Highlights
- Perplexity adds LA Times, Adweek, and others to its publisher program.
- Publishers will share in ad revenue and gain access to performance data.
- Newsroom staff at some publications were reportedly unaware of the deals.
Transparency Concerns and Legal Battles
Several news outlets, including The New York Times, Dow Jones, and The NY Post, have raised concerns about Perplexity's content usage. The NY Times issued a cease and desist letter, while Dow Jones and The NY Post are suing Perplexity. Similar legal battles have been seen in the tech industry.
Past accusations of plagiarism and inaccurate paraphrasing have further strained Perplexity's relationship with publishers. The company's monetization strategy and data-gathering tactics remain contentious.
Program Details and Competition
Perplexity is keeping the financial specifics of its publisher program confidential. This secrecy may be due to competition from rivals like OpenAI's ChatGPT Search, which offers publishers more control over their content. This competitive landscape mirrors trends in other digital platforms.
Despite the controversies, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas remains optimistic, citing a significant increase in daily queries.