SoftBank Vision Fund 2 Backs Perplexity AI at $3B Valuation

As a seasoned crypto investor with a keen interest in technological advancements, I’m excited about SoftBank’s latest investment in Perplexity AI. With a valuation of $3 billion, the company is poised to challenge industry leaders in the field of artificial intelligence.


SoftBank Group Corporation’s Vision Fund 2 is planning to pour investments into the American artificial intelligence startup, Perplexity AI, implying a valuation of approximately $3 billion for the company.

Based on Bloomberg’s report, this funding round contributes $to a $250 million series and significantly increases Perplexity AI’s valuation, aligning it with industry leaders. Founded under two years ago, Perplexity AI aspires to rival Google’s AI-driven search capabilities.

Masayoshi Son, the founder of SoftBank, places a significant emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI) as a primary area of focus for our firm. Our goal is to attain “artificial super intelligence” (ASI). Despite previous setbacks in our startup investments, I, Masayoshi Son, remain committed to advancing AI technology.

As a dedicated researcher focusing on artificial intelligence (AI) advancements, I can confirm that SoftBank, despite experiencing setbacks with previous startups, remains steadfast in its pursuit of AI technologies. Currently, we are in the initial stages of an agreement with Perplexity AI, which entails a collaborative partnership. This arrangement offers SoftBank’s wireless customers in Japan a valuable perk: free access to Perplexity AI’s services for an entire year.

As a researcher studying Perplexity AI’s expansion strategy, I would describe it this way: With this new partnership, Perplexity AI will significantly increase its presence in Japan, a significant market in the Asian region. Given our status as a real-time information provider offering text-based answers since our inception just under two years ago, we are well-positioned to deliver value to Japanese customers.

Yet, the news summary function of this system has faced criticism over potential issues in determining the original sources of content. It’s worth mentioning that SoftBank’s recent emphasis on artificial intelligence doesn’t stop at Perplexity. In fact, in January, the corporation invested $200 million in Tempus AI, a company specializing in medical data analysis.

An additional proposal includes the formation of a new AI collaboration in Japan aimed at enhancing existing AI services. Furthermore, SoftBank is reportedly progressing with a $100 billion initiative called Izanagi, intending to invest significantly in AI chips, thereby underscoring its commitment to technological advancements within the AI sector.

Representatives from Perplexity and SoftBank declined to share specifics about their ongoing investment negotiations. Initial information about the larger financing project was made public by TechCrunch.

As a crypto investor, I’d interpret this news as SoftBank ramping up its commitment to AI technology. This action aligns with Masayoshi Son’s forward-thinking perspective, positioning the company as a pioneer in the rapidly advancing field of artificial intelligence technologies.

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2024-06-27 10:46