Perplexity AI is launching a $50 million venture fund aimed at U.S.-based pre-seed and seed AI startups, with the company itself as an anchor investor. Most of the funding will come from outside limited partners. Earlier, Perplexity raised $500 million in a funding round, boosting its valuation to $9 billion, with notable backers like SoftBank and Jeff Bezos. Recently, the company announced the release of its AI-powered web browser, Comet, and a shopping assistant called Buy With Pro. The investment landscape for AI startups is growing, comprising 42% of U.S. venture capital in 2024.