- By Prateek Levi
- Sun, 22 Jun 2025 06:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
AI-powered search startup Perplexity is making waves on X (formerly Twitter) with the rollout of a striking new feature—AI-generated video responses. Its chatbot, @AskPerplexity, can now produce eight-second video clips complete with sound and dialogue, simply by being tagged with a user’s prompt.
This move has transformed Perplexity into a major source of AI-generated visuals on Elon Musk’s platform, which has already faced significant scrutiny over weak content moderation. The chatbot's ability to deliver rich, audiovisual content is poised to increase engagement—but not without raising eyebrows. While concerns around misinformation and misuse have grown louder, Perplexity claims it has taken steps to mitigate risks, stating it has “strong content filters” in place.
The release of this video capability has also reignited competition between Perplexity and Grok, the AI assistant built by Musk’s own company, xAI. Both bots are frequently tagged in replies across X, but unlike Perplexity, Grok still lacks video generation features.
The new functionality quickly gained traction. Users began uploading surreal and imaginative AI-generated video clips featuring fictional narratives with real-life figures, from celebrities to politicians. This surge led to delays in output, prompting a lighthearted post from @AskPerplexity itself:
“I’ve read through your video request DMs. Some of y’all need help,” it said on X.
Perplexity isn’t stopping there. The company has been expanding its reach by making its services available through WhatsApp, allowing people to interact with its chatbot without the need for an app or account. To use it, users simply add +1 (833) 436-3285 to their contacts and start messaging. The service supports smartphones, desktops, and WhatsApp Web, making it widely accessible. Perplexity now joins Meta AI and ChatGPT, which are also accessible via WhatsApp.
However, Perplexity’s rapid expansion has not come without resistance. It’s currently facing legal heat from multiple publishers, including the BBC, which recently accused the startup of scraping and using its content without permission to train its AI.
In a letter to CEO Aravind Srinivas, the BBC warned of potential legal action, requesting that Perplexity cease using its data, delete any previously gathered content, and propose “a proposal for financial compensation” for the alleged infringement.
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Perplexity fired back at the allegations, calling them “manipulative and opportunistic”. The company also criticized the broadcaster’s legal stance, claiming it reflects “a fundamental misunderstanding of technology, the internet and intellectual property law.”
The debate underscores the complex and often contentious terrain of AI innovation, where creativity, competition, and copyright frequently collide.