Perplexity CEO Warns Entrepreneurs of Tech Giants Copying Innovations

Aravind Srinivas, CEO of AI startup Perplexity, advises entrepreneurs to expect and embrace the fear that big tech companies will copy their successful ideas, as these giants are constantly seeking new revenue streams to justify their massive investments. Speaking at Y Combinator’s AI Startup School, Srinivas emphasized that if a startup reaches significant revenue potential, it is almost certain that model companies will replicate its innovations, citing how Perplexity’s real-time web-crawling chatbot feature was soon adopted by competitors like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic. Rather than being discouraged, Srinivas encourages founders to use this pressure as motivation to move fast, build a unique identity, and work incredibly hard to stay ahead. His approach reflects the reality of the fast-paced AI industry, where startups must persistently innovate amidst fierce competition from well-funded tech giants. Perplexity’s recent launch of the Comet AI browser exemplifies continuing innovation despite similar projects from rivals. Srinivas’ candid advice underscores that fear of imitation is inherent in tech entrepreneurship but can be a powerful driving force to success.