Perplexity AI, an AI search startup, announced plans to launch ads on its app in Q4. The company will adopt the CPM model for ads, with prices over $50 per thousand impressions, a significant increase from the average $2.5 for desktop display ads and $11.10 for mobile video. Perplexity's initial ad categories will focus on tech, health, finance, entertainment, and food & beverage, allowing advertisers to sponsor "related questions" and purchase display ads next to answers. This move follows the company's April announcement, marking a strategic shift towards monetizing its platform. With a user base largely composed of highly educated professionals, Perplexity has seen rapid growth, challenging Google with AI-driven search capabilities. The company recently secured a $2.5 billion funding round, boosting its valuation to $30 billion, up from $10 billion in April. Despite its popularity, Perplexity has faced criticism over data collection practices and content plagiarism allegations, which it addressed by updating its citation methods. Additionally, the firm introduced a revenue-sharing model last month, offering publishers a "double-digit" portion of earnings from sponsored articles, in partnership with major media outlets like Time, Der Spiegel, and Fortune.