Aravind Srinivas : CEO of Perplexity AI

Aravind Srinivas (also known as Aravind Nivas) is a prominent Indian-American computer scientist, AI researcher, and entrepreneur. He is best known as the co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, a groundbreaking generative search company that aims to revolutionize how we interact with information online.

Early Life and Education of Aravind Srinivas

Born on June 7, 1994, in Chennai, India, Aravind Srinivas developed a strong interest in technology from an early age. He pursued a dual degree—B.Tech and M.Tech in Electrical Engineering—from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. It was during his time at IIT that Srinivas shifted his focus to artificial intelligence and machine learning, inspired by collaborations with computer science peers and mentorship from Professor Balaraman Ravindran.

Despite challenges in transitioning from electrical engineering to computer science, Srinivas built a strong foundation in math and algorithms, which later became crucial in his AI research.

He went on to earn a PhD in Computer Science from the University of California, Berkeley, where he specialized in machine learning, deep learning, and transformer-based models.

Career of Aravind Srinivas in AI Research

Before founding Perplexity AI, Aravind held research roles at some of the most influential AI institutions in the world, including:

• OpenAI
  
• DeepMind (a Google company)
  
• Google Brain
  

His work spanned key areas like reinforcement learning, contrastive learning, and large language models (LLMs)—technologies that now power today’s AI tools and generative platforms.

Founding Perplexity AI

In 2022, Aravind Srinivas co-founded Perplexity AI alongside Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski. The company launched an AI-powered “answer engine” designed to provide real-time, cited, and reliable answers to user queries—offering a clear alternative to traditional search engines like Google.

Under Aravind’s leadership, Perplexity AI has:

• Grown into a widely used generative search platform
  
• Attracted major investors like Jeff Bezos and Nvidia
  
• Partnered with global brands including Deutsche Telekom to bring AI to smartphones
  
• Pioneered ethical and transparent approaches to AI search
  

In 2024, Srinivas was featured in TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in AI”, solidifying his reputation as a leader in the next wave of artificial intelligence.

Aravind Srinivas Net Worth in 2025

As of 2025, estimates of Aravind Srinivas’s net worth vary across industry reports and media outlets. Most reliable financial sources place his net worth at approximately ₹223.8 crore, which is roughly $27 to $32 million USD. This valuation is largely based on his equity stake in Perplexity AI, the rapidly growing generative AI company he co-founded.

Why the Net Worth Estimates Vary

While mainstream estimates hover around the $25–35 million mark, some tech industry analysts have speculated much higher figures, with at least one report suggesting that his net worth may have exceeded $650 million in 2025. These higher valuations are generally tied to:

• Ongoing funding rounds at soaring valuations
• The future potential of Srinivas’s ownership in Perplexity AI
• Rising interest in AI-powered search platforms
  

However, it’s important to note that these higher estimates have not been widely corroborated and remain speculative.

Fast Facts About Aravind Srinivas

Legacy and Impact

Aravind Srinivas is widely recognized for his visionary approach to AI development—emphasizing accuracy, transparency, and human-centered design. Through Perplexity AI, he continues to push the boundaries of AI-driven search, aiming to make information access faster, more reliable, and more ethical.

His work serves as an inspiration for aspiring AI professionals and startup founders around the world.

FAQ’s 

Q.1 Is Aravind Srinivas a Billionaire?

As of mid-2025, Aravind Srinivas is not a billionaire, but his personal wealth continues to grow in line with Perplexity AI’s expanding market share, increasing investor confidence, and industry-wide adoption of generative AI technologies.

Q.2 Who is the founder of Perplexity AI?

Perplexity AI was founded in 2022 by a team of four engineers: Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski

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