Indian-Origin CEO Aravind Srinivas Pioneers AI Evolution

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas blends innovation and ethics, championing AI's role in democratizing knowledge to build a more informed society.

Aravind Srinivas, an Indian-American entrepreneur and the co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, is making waves in the artificial intelligence industry with his visionary leadership and innovative approach to redefining search engines. In a competitive AI market, he has demonstrated an exceptional ability to balance technological advancements with organizational growth.

Srinivas earned his Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) degree in Computer Science from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, which laid the foundation for his expertise in AI. He further pursued graduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, where he specialized in deep learning and natural language processing. His academic journey equipped him with the skills and vision to tackle AI's most pressing challenges.

His professional experience includes internships at Google-owned DeepMind in London, where he gained hands-on experience in advanced AI research, and at OpenAI, where he later became a research scientist working on cutting-edge AI models. These roles honed his expertise in natural language processing and deep learning, shaping his approach to developing AI-driven tools that address modern-day challenges. With this foundation, Srinivas co-founded Perplexity AI in 2022, envisioning a new generation of AI-powered search engines designed to provide users with rich, accurate answers sourced from the web while offering proper citations.

Under Srinivas' leadership, Perplexity AI quickly attracted significant investor interest, including backing from Nvidia (NASDAQ: NVDA), Databricks, and Y Combinator's Garry Tan, achieving a valuation nearing $9 billion by 2023. The platform processes over 100 million queries weekly, generating approximately $50 million in annual revenue. Srinivas focused on assembling a team with complementary skill sets and emphasized recruiting individuals who excel in areas where he lacks expertise. This strategy allowed him to avoid micromanagement and instead foster a culture of collaboration and innovation. He believes in hiring talent that outperforms him in specific areas, a philosophy that has driven the company's success and scalability.

Srinivas has instilled a "bias for action" within Perplexity, ensuring the company maintains agility even as it scales. With nearly 100 employees today, he remains committed to preserving the fast-paced decision-making culture that defines startups. Reflecting on advice from a fellow entrepreneur, Srinivas acknowledged the risk of slowing down as teams grow larger but reaffirmed his determination to address this challenge head-on. He also advocates empowering individuals by giving them opportunities beyond their traditional expertise, fostering creativity, and encouraging risk-taking to drive progress.

As Perplexity AI continues to grow, Srinivas' approach, blending technological excellence with strategic foresight, positions the company as a transformative force in the AI landscape. With a steadfast commitment to innovation, agility, and responsibility, Srinivas is not only shaping the future of search engines but also inspiring the next generation of AI entrepreneurs.