Perplexity AI Hits 100 Million Monthly Active Users Milestone: AI Search Emerges as a Formidable Challenger to Google

Perplexity AI surpassed 100 million monthly active users in Q1 2026, completing a $400 million Series E funding round at a $9 billion valuation. During the same period, AI search captured over 15% of the global search market for the first time, with Google's AI Overview launch paradoxically accelerating user migration toward AI-first search habits. This article analyzes the shifting landscape of AI search and how Perplexity's business model, through content royalties, is creating a new media ecosystem.