Live data from Hacker News

Perplexity got ads

twitter.com

31–40 of 369 posts

Re: Perplexity got ads

#31

Makes me wonder if the lowering of prices in this industry is temporary. Currently, the API costs are at an all-time low, but how much of it is subsidized by investor money? Are we going to see increasing prices as the hype goes away and post-nut clarity kicks in the industry?

> Makes me wonder if the lowering of prices in this industry is temporary.

Yes.

For example, Microsoft is keeping prices of Copilot temporarily free for as long as possible to destroy competitors who can't compete with the best tool available for free.

This is a known attractive tactic to the point where it is the new definition of 'Extinguish' in Microsoft's EEE strategy: Embrace (Open Source, Github), Extend (OpenAI, GitHub), Extinguish (For free).

> Are we going to see increasing prices as the hype goes away and post-nut clarity kicks in the industry?

Until there are enough AI startups shutting down and a few of them have gone public on the stock market. The prices will start to rise by $0.50 - $1.50 per million tokens very slowly.

Re: Perplexity got ads

#32
well it's a company and no one is forced to use their product if they don't like their business model.

Everyone knew they couldn't keep being free for ever, and i believe it's only a beginning. one sponsored result per prompt ain't going to balance the expense.

Re: Perplexity got ads

#34
post #3

I like how AI generated ads tacitly confirm that advertisement was never about exposure and introducing people to new things. No, it's about automating deception on a grand scale and awarding the people that can most effectively control an audience. Why is TurboTax the best way to file my taxes, anyways?

Because of regulatory capture. In essence, TurboTax has been able to purchase legislators who then ensure that tax law is difficult for regular people. This creates a larger market for TurboTax. That's similar (albeit less awful, I admit) to how for-profit prisons are able to purchase legislators to ensure that they are able to fill their cells. There are some countries that have managed to avoid having tax prep soft…

Even with that, TurboTax probably isn't the best. H&R Block or TaxSlayer or FreeTaxUSA can help you with your taxes just the same for less or free.

Re: Perplexity got ads

#35
post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah but what if they took the 3-5 dollars and also showed you ads?

That’ll never work. Looks at cable TV Looks at streaming services

I have neither and my life is better for it. I might pay for a decent streaming service but we've past the point where that is the case. I will never pay again for classic TV, it's a scam since you pay for more ads than actual content.

Re: Perplexity got ads

#37
post #25
post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

But why do they need to choose the shittiest monetization model?

If you have a better idea for making AI chatbots profitable then I'm sure all the AI chatbot companies which are losing staggering amounts of money would love to hear it. The first step is to find any business model that works, shittily or unshittily.

Burning money is part of the plan. Winner takes all, etc. Need I explain more?

Re: Perplexity got ads

#38
post #3

I like how AI generated ads tacitly confirm that advertisement was never about exposure and introducing people to new things. No, it's about automating deception on a grand scale and awarding the people that can most effectively control an audience. Why is TurboTax the best way to file my taxes, anyways?

Because of regulatory capture. In essence, TurboTax has been able to purchase legislators who then ensure that tax law is difficult for regular people. This creates a larger market for TurboTax. That's similar (albeit less awful, I admit) to how for-profit prisons are able to purchase legislators to ensure that they are able to fill their cells. There are some countries that have managed to avoid having tax prep soft…

Here’s a free alternative. (free for federal; $15 for state returns).

https://www.freetaxusa.com/

Yes, the name sounds like a scam, but I’ve used it without issue for the past 5 years.

Re: Perplexity got ads

#40
post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That’ll never work. Looks at cable TV Looks at streaming services

I have neither and my life is better for it. I might pay for a decent streaming service but we've past the point where that is the case. I will never pay again for classic TV, it's a scam since you pay for more ads than actual content.

What could make a streaming service "decent" ?
Post reply on HN