It was the image of UC Berkeley, where he did his graduate studies during his PhD days, that Aravind Srinivas grew up with — an aura of newer research, academic breakthroughs. Shaping that image in one’s early life in Chennai, in India, assisted by a relentless search for knowledge, eventuated in Perplexity, a highly promising AI-powered answer engine, which has all the hallmarks of seeking a change in information access behavior.

“Knowledge has always been valued over wealth where I come from,” Srinivas shared during a recent conversation at Stanford. “Growing up, people respected you for being scholarly and well-read, not just rich. That ethos shaped the way I think about democratizing knowledge today.”

Srinivas’s academic journey laid the groundwork for his entrepreneurial path. Perplexity’s innovative approach to AI, where every answer is cited, mirrors his experiences as a researcher.

“When I first started writing academic papers, I realized citations are everything. They’re the currency of credibility,” he explained. “That’s why at Perplexity, every AI-generated answer is backed by citations from trusted sources. It’s a core part of our DNA.”

This meticulous approach has resonated with users, especially those in academic and professional settings, yet it hasn’t come without challenges. From legal disputes with media giants to ethical debates about AI’s use of proprietary content, Perplexity has faced its share of scrutiny. Srinivas’s response is pragmatic: “No one owns the truth or facts. Our goal is to synthesize and reference information responsibly, and we’re working with publishers to share ad revenue fairly.”

Despite these challenges, Perplexity is growing rapidly, recently achieving a $9 billion valuation. A significant part of its success lies in the team Srinivas has built.

“One thing I’ve learned is to hire people who are exceptional in areas where I’m not,” he said. “For instance, my co-founders brought skills I didn’t have — like Dennis’ AI expertise and Johnny’s world-class programming. Together, we’ve been able to create something truly unique.”

Looking ahead, Srinivas sees Perplexity as more than just a search engine — it’s an answer engine designed to empower users in their pursuit of knowledge and productivity.

“Our tagline is ‘Where knowledge begins,’ because there’s truly no end to learning,” he said. “Imagine a world where anyone can access the same level of insight and assistance as a billionaire. That’s the future we’re building.”

When asked how he wants to be remembered, Srinivas didn’t hesitate.

“I’d love for Perplexity to be known for making the world smarter. If we can help people learn something new every day, then I’ll know we’ve left a meaningful mark,” he said.

Srinivas is a visionary in the truest sense, combining intellectual rigor with an unyielding commitment to democratizing knowledge. As he puts it: “There’s no limit to what we can achieve when we strive to understand the world better.”