What if the future of search wasn’t about links, ads, or ten blue results, but rather about answering your questions like a trusted, well-informed friend? That’s the bold bet Aravind Srinivas is making with Perplexity.

In an insightful interview with Y Combinator’s David Lieb, the co-founder and CEO of Perplexity pulls back the curtain on what it takes to build a better search engine in the shadow of a giant like Google. However this isn’t a tale of disruption for disruption’s sake. It’s about redefining what “search” can and should be.

"The User Is Never Wrong"

If there’s one quote that captures the ethos of Perplexity, it’s this:

"The user is never wrong." – @Aravind Srinivas

Rather than forcing people to adapt to clunky interfaces or memorize prompt engineering tricks, Perplexity leans into natural user behavior. Srinivas explained:

"If it doesn’t feel good for ourselves, the user is also not going to feel that. In fact, we have way more incentive to go use our own product, but the user doesn’t, so the standards for the user should be even higher."

This user-first mentality informs everything from how Perplexity handles ambiguous queries by asking clarifying questions, to how the team prioritizes hiring product-minded individuals who genuinely care about their work.

Product Taste Over Pure Tech

One of the most insightful moments of the interview came when Srinivas pointed out the similarities between early Google and Perplexity’s product DNA: an obsession with the details, a relentless focus on the user experience, and a founder who lives in the product.

Search Experience & Accuracy: Fast vs. Deep

Google has long been the gold standard for authoritative results, supported by decades of indexing and ranking expertise. However, this depth often comes at a cost: information overload, SEO-gamed results, and distracting ads.

Perplexity offers something different: clarity over clutter. It’s like asking a well-read colleague for a fast, sourced answer. While it won’t replace Google for multi-layered research, it’s incredibly effective for quick insights and direction.

Personally, I use both, but when I need sharp summaries and strategic ideation, Perplexity has been my go-to.

User Interface & UX: Designed for Focus

Google’s UI has evolved into a dense web of ads, knowledge panels, and cluttered links. It’s functional, but often cognitively exhausting.

Perplexity, on the other hand, is refreshingly minimalist. The interface keeps you focused on the answer, no distractions, no rabbit holes. For me, it’s a workflow booster. Fewer tabs, less friction, more clarity.

Choosing the Right Tool for the Job

The trick isn’t to abandon one for the other, it’s to understand what each is built for. Here’s how I frame it in practice:

Privacy, Please

As a marketer, I constantly weigh the value of personalization against the importance of data ethics. That’s why I pay close attention to platforms’ privacy practices.

Google’s model is fundamentally ad-driven with targeting, retargeting, and data-fueled engagement. Perplexity takes a different stance. No ads, no trackers, just answers. It feels neutral, and that neutrality builds trust.

The AI Arms Race

Google’s Bard and Gemini are exciting evolutions of search. Gemini, in particular, signals how seriously Google is integrating AI into its platform.

But Perplexity is built entirely around AI from the start. Every search taps into GPT-4 and other models to generate conversational responses with citations. There’s no separation between classic and AI content, it’s all part of a unified experience.

The Road Ahead

Perplexity isn’t out to “kill Google.” It’s building an entirely new kind of search experience that's fast, intelligent, and user-centered. As Srinivas puts it:

“You start with a problem in your mind. You seek help. The product gives you answers and helps you fulfill the action. That’s the future we want.”