Wired: AI startup Perplexity is 'BS machine'

CNBC Television
21 Jun 202406:38

TLDRWired investigates the AI startup Perplexity, questioning its search capabilities and ethical practices. Critics argue it relies on scraping content, including from sites that prohibit it, leading to biased and inaccurate responses. The discussion highlights the need for reliable, unbiased AI tools and the importance of accurate information in a digital age.

Takeaways

  • 🤖 AI startup Perplexity is backed by high-profile investors but faces criticism for its unclear search methodology.
  • 🔍 The company's search product has been questioned for providing inaccurate responses and scraping content from websites that have requested not to be scraped.
  • 💸 Despite the controversy, Perplexity has quickly reached a valuation of around $1 billion.
  • 😕 The tool is described as confusing, with critics suggesting it lacks the advanced capabilities expected from AI technology.
  • 🚫 Perplexity is accused of using an undisclosed IP address to circumvent the 'robots.txt' protocol and scrape content from certain websites.
  • 🤔 Concerns are raised about the potential biases in the information provided by AI tools like Perplexity.
  • 📚 The discussion suggests that for accurate information, it might be better to go directly to the sources rather than relying on AI search tools.
  • 😡 There is a call for the technology industry to recognize the importance of accurate journalism and information dissemination.
  • 🚀 The rapid growth and high valuation of AI companies like Perplexity are questioned, with critics pointing out the disconnect between their technology and real value.
  • 🧐 The conversation implies that AI's current state might be overhyped, with one participant feeling that the technology is '100 years off'.
  • 🌐 The debate highlights the ongoing tension between the tech industry's rush for innovation and the need for ethical and accurate information gathering.

Q & A

  • What is the main concern raised by the authors of the Wired article about the AI startup Perplexity?

    -The main concern is that it is unclear how Perplexity works, what it is, and how it achieves its search results. There are also issues with inaccurate responses and the company's apparent disregard for widely accepted standards against scraping certain areas of websites.

  • What is the current valuation of Perplexity mentioned in the transcript?

    -Perplexity has built up a valuation of around $1 billion in a very short period of time.

  • What does the term 'GIGO' stand for, and how is it relevant to the discussion about Perplexity?

    -GIGO stands for 'Garbage In, Garbage Out,' which is relevant to the discussion as it highlights the concern that Perplexity's output is of poor quality because it is based on inaccurate or low-quality data.

  • What is the criticism regarding Perplexity's approach to sourcing information?

    -The criticism is that Perplexity appears to be scraping websites using undisclosed IP addresses to circumvent requests not to scrape certain content, which raises ethical and legal concerns.

  • What is the 'robots.txt' protocol mentioned in the transcript, and why is it significant?

    -The 'robots.txt' protocol is a standard that websites use to communicate with web crawlers and bots about the areas of the site that should not be accessed or scraped. It is significant because Perplexity is accused of ignoring this protocol.

  • What is the advice given for obtaining accurate information, as suggested in the transcript?

    -The advice is to go directly to the sources of information rather than relying on AI tools like Perplexity, which may not provide accurate or reliable information.

  • What is the concern about inherent biases in AI tools like Perplexity?

    -The concern is that AI tools may reflect and amplify existing biases found in the data they are trained on or scrape from the internet, leading to inaccurate or misleading information.

  • How does the transcript describe the relationship between the technology industry and journalism?

    -The transcript describes a situation where the technology industry is running amok, with journalism and the dissemination of accurate information being collateral damage in the race for innovation and market share.

  • What is the criticism regarding the technology industry's approach to news and journalism?

    -The criticism is that the technology industry has become divorced from the importance of news journalism and accurate information, with a focus on technological advancement at the expense of ethical considerations.

  • What is the potential consequence of the issues raised in the transcript for civil society?

    -The potential consequence is that the lack of accurate information and the spread of misinformation could undermine the foundations of a civil society, which relies on trustworthy news and data.

  • What is the final message conveyed in the transcript about the importance of accurate information?

    -The final message is a call to action for individuals to be their own intelligence, to verify information, and not to rely solely on AI tools that may provide inaccurate or biased information.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Perplexity AI's Controversial Search Practices

The first paragraph discusses the AI search startup Perplexity, which has garnered significant attention and investment from notable figures such as Jeff Bezos. However, there is confusion and criticism surrounding its search product. Critics argue that Perplexity's responses are inaccurate and it appears to ignore standard protocols against scraping certain areas of websites. Katie Drummond, the Global Editorial Director of Wired, shares her negative experience with the AI service, describing it as 'garbage in, garbage out.' She criticizes the service for providing answers based on the most extreme content found on platforms like Reddit, lacking the thoughtful analysis expected from AI. The conversation also touches on the rapid valuation growth of Perplexity to $1 billion, despite the confusion about its operational methods and the ethical concerns of its data sourcing practices.

05:00

💬 The Importance of Direct Information Sourcing

The second paragraph emphasizes the need for individuals to seek accurate information directly from reliable sources rather than relying on AI services like Perplexity. The speaker suggests that AI tools are often based on readily available information on the internet, which can be misleading or biased, leading to the acronym 'GIGO' (Garbage In, Garbage Out). The discussion highlights the technology industry's potential disregard for the importance of journalism and accurate information dissemination. The speaker warns of the consequences of prioritizing technological advancements over the integrity of information, suggesting that this could undermine the foundations of a civil society. The conversation also references past instances where AI, like IBM's Watson, has provided incorrect information, reinforcing the need for direct research and verification.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AI startup

An AI startup refers to a company that is in the early stages of development and focuses on creating and implementing artificial intelligence technologies. In the context of the video, the AI startup mentioned is Perplexity, which is backed by notable investors and has garnered significant attention and valuation despite its controversial nature.

💡Perplexity

Perplexity, in this context, is the name of the AI search startup that is being discussed. The term is also used metaphorically to describe the confusion surrounding the company's operations and its unclear methods of achieving search results.

💡Search product

A search product is a service or tool that enables users to search for information on the internet. The video script questions the effectiveness and accuracy of Perplexity's search product, suggesting that it may not be providing reliable or thoughtfully curated results.

💡Inaccurate responses

Inaccurate responses refer to the outcomes or answers provided by a search tool that do not align with the facts or expected results. The script criticizes Perplexity for providing such responses, implying a lack of quality control or a flawed algorithm.

💡Scraping

Scraping is the process of extracting data from websites, typically without permission. The script accuses Perplexity of ignoring a widely accepted standard by scraping certain areas of websites, which is seen as unethical and potentially illegal.

💡Robots.txt

Robots.txt is a file used by websites to instruct web crawlers about which parts of the site should not be accessed or indexed. The script mentions that Perplexity is allegedly circumventing this protocol by using undisclosed IP addresses to scrape content.

💡Valuation

Valuation in the context of a startup refers to the estimated worth of the company, often based on its potential for growth and the value of its assets or services. The video discusses Perplexity's high valuation of $1 billion, questioning whether it is justified given the company's controversial practices.

💡Information synthesis

Information synthesis involves combining and summarizing information from various sources to create a coherent and comprehensive understanding. The script suggests that Perplexity fails in this regard, merely collating information without adding value or logic.

💡Bias

Bias in the context of AI refers to the tendency of algorithms to favor certain perspectives or information, potentially leading to skewed or unfair results. The script raises concerns about the inherent biases in Perplexity's search results and questions the neutrality of AI tools.

💡GIGO

GIGO stands for 'Garbage In, Garbage Out,' a principle that suggests that poor quality input data will lead to poor quality output. This term is used in the script to criticize Perplexity's reliance on low-quality internet data, resulting in unreliable search results.

💡Journalism

Journalism refers to the activity of gathering, assessing, creating, and presenting news and information. The script highlights the importance of journalism in providing accurate information and criticizes Perplexity for potentially undermining this by using journalism content unethically.

Highlights

AI startup Perplexity is backed by notable investors such as Indiana and Jeff Bezos.

The company's search product is unclear in its functionality and results.

Perplexity has been criticized for providing inaccurate responses to questions.

The startup is accused of ignoring a widely accepted standard not to scrape certain areas of websites.

Perplexity's search results are described as 'garbage in, garbage out'.

The AI service is criticized for using the nastiest content from outlier sources.

Perplexity's valuation has quickly risen to $1 billion despite confusion about its product.

The company's method of obtaining information is questioned, with concerns about scraping.

Perplexity is accused of using an undisclosed IP address to circumvent requests not to scrape certain sites.

Concerns are raised about inherent biases in the information provided by Perplexity.

The AI's search results are compared to knee-jerk reactions rather than thoughtful analysis.

It is suggested that AI tools rely on readily available information on the internet, leading to potential inaccuracies.

The advice given is to go directly to the sources of information rather than relying on AI.

The technology industry is criticized for being divorced from the importance of accurate journalism.

The discussion highlights the potential for technology to cause collateral damage in the pursuit of market share.

The conversation emphasizes the importance of accurate information as the bedrock of a civil society.