Aravind Srinivas, the Indian-American co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, is carving a formidable path in the world of artificial intelligence, challenging tech giants like Google with a bold vision for the future of search. At just 31 years old, Srinivas has transformed Perplexity AI into a $9 billion powerhouse, positioning it as a revolutionary “answer engine” that delivers conversational, cited responses to user queries. His journey from a curious student in Chennai, India, to a Silicon Valley disruptor is a testament to resilience, intellectual passion, and a relentless drive to make knowledge more accessible.
Early Life and Education: A Foundation in Curiosity
Born on June 7, 1994, in Chennai, India, Aravind Srinivas was raised in an environment where academic excellence was highly valued. His mother’s unwavering belief in his potential left a lasting mark; she would point to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras campus during bus rides, declaring, “This is where you’re going to study.” Srinivas fulfilled that expectation, earning dual B.Tech and M.Tech degrees in Electrical Engineering from IIT Madras. However, his path wasn’t without setbacks. Unable to switch to Computer Science due to a 0.01 shortfall in his CGPA, Srinivas initially felt crushed, admitting to a year of depression. Yet, this obstacle became a catalyst for self-discovery.
During his time at IIT Madras, Srinivas discovered his passion for artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). A forward-thinking professor introduced him to Python, a language then underutilized at IIT, which gave him a head start in the Python-centric world of ML. His early exposure to deep learning and reinforcement learning, coupled with mentorship from professors such as Ravindran B and Mitesh Khapra, led to nine published papers at top-tier AI conferences, including ICLR, AAAI, and NeurIPS. This academic rigor laid the groundwork for his future endeavors.
Srinivas pursued a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley, focusing on reinforcement learning, generative models, and contrastive learning. His research stints at OpenAI, DeepMind, and Google further honed his expertise, including a collaboration with transformer pioneer Ashish Vaswani. These experiences fueled his fascination with solving complex problems and ignited his entrepreneurial spark.
Founding Perplexity AI: A New Paradigm for Search
In August 2022, Srinivas co-founded Perplexity AI with Andy Konwinski, Denis Yarats, and Johnny Ho to redefine how people access information. Unlike traditional search engines that deliver a barrage of links, Perplexity’s AI-powered “answer engine” uses large language models (LLMs) to provide direct, conversational responses with transparent citations. Described as the “fastest way to get answers to any questions,” Perplexity has attracted over 230 million monthly queries and tens of millions of users.
Backed by high-profile investors like Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, Nat Friedman, and even Google’s Jeff Dean, Perplexity’s valuation soared from $1 billion in April 2024 to $9 billion by December 2024, following a $500 million funding round led by Institutional Venture Partners. The company’s rapid growth reflects its disruptive potential in a market dominated by Google, which Srinivas argues is hindered by its ad-driven model. “The biggest loser is Google,” he told Axios, highlighting the conflict between Google’s ad revenue and user-focused search.
Perplexity’s innovations extend beyond search. In 2024, it introduced features such as Deep Research, which enables in-depth reports, and a shopping hub backed by Amazon and Nvidia. The company also launched Internal Knowledge Search for enterprise users and open-sourced R1 1776, a model based on DeepSeek’s R1, signaling a commitment to accessible AI. Despite controversies, including lawsuits from Dow Jones, Forbes, and Condé Nast over alleged content scraping and plagiarism, Srinivas has emphasized improving attribution and launched a revenue-sharing program for publishers.
A Bold Vision for AI and India’s Role
Srinivas’s ambitions extend beyond Perplexity. In January 2025, he pledged $1 million and five hours weekly to support an Indian team developing open-source AI models under an MIT license, aiming to position India as a global AI leader akin to ISRO’s space achievements. He has also advocated for free access to Perplexity’s Pro version for Indian students, aiming to secure one million sign-ups to democratize knowledge. His meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2025 underscored his commitment to the adoption of AI in India.
Srinivas’s outspoken nature has stirred attention, notably when he playfully challenged Elon Musk on X, joking about raising $500 billion from USAID. This boldness, paired with his technical prowess, has earned him recognition as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in AI for 2024.
Personal Drive and Philosophy
Srinivas’s work ethic is relentless and rooted in a love for intellectual challenges. “I enjoy it. It’s not about chasing some big goal; it’s about doing what I love,” he told Zerodha’s Nikhil Kamath. His advice to aspiring AI professionals is simple: “Follow your heart.” This passion, forged through early struggles and a curiosity-driven mindset, continues to drive Perplexity’s mission to “cater to the world’s curiosity.”
Conclusion
Aravind Srinivas’s journey from Chennai to Silicon Valley embodies the power of resilience and vision. By building Perplexity AI into a $9 billion disruptor, he is not only challenging the status quo of search but also advocating for a future where knowledge is accessible, transparent, and empowering. As he continues to innovate and inspire, Srinivas stands as a beacon for the next generation of AI pioneers, proving that curiosity and grit can reshape the world.
