Perplexity is an AI-powered answer engine that replaces the traditional list of links with direct, cited responses synthesized from live web sources. Users type or speak a question; Perplexity retrieves real-time data from the web, runs it through large language models, and returns a concise answer with source citations — all in seconds. It handles everything from casual curiosity to deep research, shopping, and financial analysis. In 2026, the company launched "Computer," a general-purpose AI agent that can operate software autonomously, browse the web, and execute multi-step workflows — pushing Perplexity beyond search and into agentic task automation. Revenue comes from consumer subscriptions (Pro at $20/month, Max at $200/month) and enterprise contracts. The API platform lets developers plug Perplexity's search and reasoning stack into their own products. Customers range from individual knowledge workers and students to enterprises running research and workflow automation at scale. The company operates a proprietary search index built largely in Rust, with engineering hubs in San Francisco, London, and Belgrade.