Watch out, Google — Perplexity’s new Sonar API enables real-time AI search

AI search startup Perplexity has launched Sonar, a new API service that offers real-time search capabilities at competitive prices, challenging established players like Google and OpenAI in the enterprise market.

Product launch details; Perplexity’s Sonar API comes in two tiers – a basic version and Sonar Pro – designed to serve different enterprise needs and use cases.

• The base tier Sonar service costs $5 per 1,000 searches plus token fees
• Sonar Pro offers doubled citation density and advanced multi-search capabilities for complex queries, though with higher token costs
• The service has already been integrated into Zoom’s AI Companion 2.0, enabling real-time information access during video conferences

Technical capabilities and performance; Sonar differentiates itself through real-time web connectivity and superior performance metrics compared to existing solutions.

• The service achieved an 85.8 F-score on the SimpleQA benchmark, outperforming both GPT-4 and Claude
• Unlike many competing APIs that rely solely on training data, Sonar maintains an active connection to current web information
• The real-time capability makes it particularly valuable for enterprises requiring up-to-date information, though this may affect consistency in some applications

Market positioning and funding; Perplexity’s aggressive entry into the enterprise AI search market is backed by substantial financial resources and strategic pricing.

• The company recently secured $500 million in funding led by Institutional Venture Partners
• Current company valuation stands at $9 billion
• Pricing strategy appears designed to undercut existing market players while offering superior features

Enterprise implications; The launch addresses growing demand for verifiable, current information in enterprise AI applications.

• Organizations can now access real-time search capabilities through a cost-effective API solution
• The technology enables new use cases, such as integrating current information into video conferencing platforms
• Technical decision makers gain a new option for applications requiring citation tracking and real-time data access

Market dynamics and future outlook: While Perplexity’s entry brings innovative features and competitive pricing to the enterprise AI search market, the company’s ability to maintain its advantages will likely face pressure as established competitors adjust their strategies and offerings.