Perplexity in early talks for funding at $18 billion value

Perplexity AI Inc., a startup building an artificial intelligence search engine to compete with Google, is in early talks to double its valuation to $18 billion in a new funding round, according to a person familiar with the matter.

The company has discussed raising as much as $500 million to $1 billion in the round, according to the person, who asked not to be identified because the information isn’t public. The conversations are still early and the details could change.

The Information previously reported Perplexity had received funding offers at…