Perplexity Launches Sonar API

Perplexity has unveiled Sonar, an API that allows enterprises and developers to integrate its generative AI search capabilities into their own applications. Sonar aims to optimize factuality and authority by providing real-time internet-connected answers sourced from trusted content.

With two tiers—Sonar and Sonar Pro—Perplexity offers affordable options for developers.

Notably, Zoom is already leveraging Sonar to enhance its video conferencing platform with AI-driven, real-time search capabilities.

This launch provides Perplexity a fresh revenue stream and positions the company competitively in the generative AI market.

Key Points

Introduction of Sonar:

An API offering real-time AI-powered search integrated with internet-sourced citations.
Available in two tiers: Sonar (cheaper and faster) and Sonar Pro (a more advanced option that provides detailed answers and can tackle more complex queries).

Pricing Model:

The pricing structure seems to be designed to disrupt the market.

Sonar (base version): flat pricing, costs $5 per 1,000 searches, plus $1 for every 750,000 words you input into the AI model, and another $1 for every 750,000 words the model generates.
Sonar Pro: $5 per 1,000 searches, $3 per 750,000 input words, $15 per 750,000 output words.

Key Features:

Sonar API also offers enterprises and developers the option to customize the sources its AI search engine pulls from.
Sonar Pro runs multiple searches on top of a user prompt and provides twice as many citations as the base version.

Performance Claims:

According to Perplexity, Sonar Pro surpassed top models from Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic in the SimpleQA benchmark, which evaluates the factual accuracy of AI chatbot responses.

Strategic Importance:

Aims to generate new revenue streams for Perplexity amidst a competitive and price-sensitive AI tools market.

Recent Funding:

At the end of 2024, Perplexity secured $500 million in funding, led by Institutional Venture Partners, bringing the company’s valuation to $9 billion.

Key Quotes:

“While most generative AI features today have answers informed only by training data, this limits their capabilities,” said Perplexity in a blog post. “To optimize for factuality and authority, APIs require a real-time connection to the Internet, with answers informed by trusted sources.”

“Sonar is the most affordable search API product on the market. Use it to build generative search, powered by real-time information and citations, into your apps. We’re also offering a Pro version with deeper functionality.” @perplexity_ai via X

Implications:

The launch of Sonar marks a strategic move for Perplexity, broadening its market presence and creating new revenue opportunities.

Its affordability and performance claims make it a potential disruptor in the AI search API market. By allowing developers to integrate real-time AI search with customized sources, Perplexity is positioning itself as a leader in practical AI applications.

This could intensify competition with major players like Google and OpenAI.

Source: https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/21/perplexity-launches-sonar-an-api-for-ai-search/