11 Jul 2025
43m

Aravind Srinivas: The Race to Build the AI Browser of the Future

Podcast cover

Y Combinator Startup Podcast

In this interview, Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity, discusses the company's focus on accuracy and speed in AI search, its upcoming browser Comet, and strategies for competing with tech giants like Google and OpenAI. He shares insights on Perplexity's origins, its initial focus on Twitter search, and the shift towards becoming a comprehensive AI-powered search engine. Aravind emphasizes the importance of moving fast, innovating, and building a strong brand identity to stand out in a competitive landscape, highlighting the company's partnerships and its approach to business models, including subscriptions and usage-based pricing. He also touches on the challenges of balancing AI-driven coding tools with traditional software engineering skills and addresses concerns about the sustainability of the web in the face of AI-driven search.

Outlines

Part 1: Vision and Origins

Part 2: Product and Strategy

Part 3: Audience Q&A

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