# Usage-based Billing

Perplexity’s High-Stakes Pivot: How AI Agents and Usage-Based Billing Sparked a 50% Revenue Surge

AI startup Perplexity has seen its monthly revenue surge by 50% following a strategic pivot from search to AI agents and the implementation of usage-based billing. While the company has reached an ARR of $450 million, it continues to face stiff competition from OpenAI and Anthropic alongside ongoing legal challenges regarding content copyright.