Perplexity Founder Warns Startups of Big Tech Copycat Risks in AI Sector

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas delivered a stark warning to emerging AI founders during Y Combinator's AI Startup School, highlighting the inevitability of idea replication by deep-pocketed tech giants. "Assume a model company will copy it," he cautioned, citing recent examples where OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google rapidly adopted Perplexity's pioneering web-crawling chatbot features after their successful debut.

The discussion revealed a fundamental power imbalance in AI development. With major players raising $50 billion war chests, Srinivas noted they systematically monitor and replicate promising innovations. His remarks come as Perplexity itself faces mounting competition following its 2022 launch as an answer engine—a concept now widely emulated across the industry.