Perplexity's publisher program expansion could shake up the media landscape

In an effort to broaden its revenue-sharing model, Perplexity, the AI-driven search engine, has recently expanded its publisher program, engaging several notable media brands. Among the new participants are the LA Times, Adweek, Mexico News Daily, and other diverse news outlets who have signed up to become part of this initiative. The program promises these publishers a share of the advertising revenue generated through their content on the Perplexity platform, along with metrics to evaluate their performance. However, this expansion comes with some sources indicating that staff members at these organizations, particularly at the LA Times and Adweek, were not adequately informed or consulted regarding this arrangement, leading to feelings of confusion and lack of transparency within editorial teams. As this development unfolds, it raises questions about the nature of the partnerships and the responsibilities of both the publishers and Perplexity. Notably, organizations like The New York Times, Dow Jones, and The New York Post remain absent from this program due to ongoing legal disputes, which underscores the complexity of Perplexity's relationship with the media landscape.