It should come as no surprise that the market size and growth for AI educational tools have been experiencing significant expansion in recent years. The adoption of artificial intelligence in the education sector has led to the development and proliferation of innovative tools and technologies aimed at enhancing learning experiences and outcomes. Generally, this is due to numerous factors, some of which, I have listed below.
GENERAL: The market size for AI educational tools encompasses a wide range of products and services, including intelligent tutoring systems, adaptive learning platforms, virtual reality applications, language processing tools, and automated grading systems. The global market size for AI in education was valued at USD 2.8 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 8.4 billion by 2026, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 20% during the forecast period (Bloomberg, 2023).
SPECIFIC: Perplexity is not even a year old so it controls less than 5% of all AI searches at the moment. There is a lot of room to grow and since they've partnered with ChatGPT and use the newest 4th edition, their growth is expected to explode in the coming months.
GENERAL: The demand for AI educational tools is driven by several factors. There is a growing emphasis on personalized and adaptive learning experiences that cater to individual student needs, and AI tools can provide tailored content and recommendations. Additionally, the increasing integration of technology in classrooms, the rise of online learning platforms, and the need for efficient administrative processes contribute to the demand for AI educational tools.
SPECIFIC: The fact that ChatGPT got more users in its first ten days than instagram got in its first two years, this market has proven that there is exponential growth ahead. Perplexity reports to have had 10 million monthly visitors, with 2 million in February alone (techcrunch, 2023).
GENERAL: Advancements in AI technologies, such as natural language processing, machine learning, computer vision, and data analytics, have expanded the capabilities of educational tools. These technologies enable intelligent feedback, real-time analysis of student performance, automated assessment, and personalized content delivery. The evolving AI landscape, coupled with the availability of big data and cloud computing resources, fuels the growth of AI educational tools.
SPECIFIC: As I wrote in the 'about' section, Perplexity continues to add new features, such as the Pro versions, the copilot, and the AI Profile. As they are partnering with more AI search tools and what to continue to monotize the business, the new features should continue to arrive.
GENERAL: AI educational tools are being adopted across diverse educational settings, including K-12 schools, higher education institutions, corporate training, and lifelong learning platforms. The integration of AI in these contexts facilitates personalized instruction, intelligent content generation, efficient administrative processes, and data-driven decision-making.
SPECIFIC: While there is no specific or formal timeline for educational adoption, my school board just held a ProD day in which we discussed AI tools for use in the classroom and Perplexity featured prominently.
GENERAL: The market for AI educational tools is not limited to specific geographic regions. It has a global reach, with significant adoption observed in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and other regions. The increasing recognition of the importance of digital skills and the need for technology-driven education contributes to the widespread adoption of AI tools worldwide.
SPECIFIC: If you scroll down to the charts section, you will see that 101 global regions are currently using Perplexity, with more finding the IOS daily (GoogleTrends, 2023).
GENERAL: The market growth is supported by substantial investments and funding in AI educational technology startups and companies. Venture capital firms, educational institutions, and governments are actively investing in AI-based solutions to improve educational outcomes, leading to increased research and development in the field.
SPECIFIC: In April of 2023, Perplexity raised 23 million in its Series A funding round, and launched the ISO App promptly afterwards (techcrunch, 2023). This is just the first round of funding.
Perplexity is experiencing a noticeable upward trajectory in its prominence. Since its launch in December 2022, Perplexity has been steadily gaining popularity in online searches. The frequency of Google searches for Perplexity is on the rise, reflecting a similar pattern to the increasing search interest in ChatGPT, albeit with lower overall search volumes.
Here are the most popular searches pertaining to Perplexity AI. There are no real surprises here except that 'perplexity ai careers' is in the top eight searches. This shows its rising popularity and how people are looking to get involved on the ground floor. The company is quite active on Twitter, and it is the preferred social media option. I found it fascinating that 'perplexity ai vs ChatGPT' is trending as they have partnered recently to compliment each others services.
I couldn't find any data as to why Perplexity is so popular in Morocco, but it is telling that 101 regions (in this case, region primarily refer to countries) are already using Perplexity for their AI search and research needs. This service is in its infancy and there is a lot of growth to come.
*The last three charts were found by using Google Charts and Google Analytics.
Strengths
Innovative Technology: Perplexity possesses cutting-edge technology, providing a competitive advantage over existing solutions in the market.
Talented Team: The people behind Perplexity have experience at some of the most advanced tech companies in the world, including Meta, Google, OpenAI, Deepmind, and Tesla.
Agility and Adaptability: As a new company, Perplexity is more agile and adaptable compared competitors, enabling quick decision-making and responsiveness to market needs. This is a new market, so there are very few 'old' companies, but it doesn't contain the mass amounts of middle management that you would find at Google or Meta.
Strong Intellectual Property: The company holds strong intellectual property rights, creating barriers to entry for potential competitors. They have trademarked their search and link feature.
Opportunities
Growing Market Demand: The market for the Perplexity's technology is expanding rapidly, presenting ample opportunities for customer acquisition and revenue growth.
Emerging Trends: Market trends, such as increasing adoption of digital solutions or changing customer preferences, can create opportunities for the company to address unmet needs or disrupt existing markets. We see this in the new features on offer at Perplexity.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborating with established industry players, technology partners, or academic institutions can provide access to resources, distribution channels, and expertise to accelerate growth. Case in point, the recent partnership with ChatGPT.
Global Expansion: The company can explore international markets to tap into new customer bases and capitalize on the global demand for innovative tech solutions. At over 101 regions and counting, this is a global tool, unrestricted by borders.
Weaknesses
Limited Market Presence: Being a new company, Perplexity lacks brand recognition and market visibility, making it challenging to gain traction and secure customer trust.
Resource Constraints: Although they just made $24 million in their Series A funding round, limited financial resources and access to capital may hinder the company's ability to scale operations, invest in marketing, or expand its product portfolio. If it grows too quickly, it won't have the funds to handle it.
Limited Track Record: The company's lack of a track record and customer testimonials may make it difficult to establish credibility and attract early adopters. This is a tech savvy customer base who is used to taking risks so this isn't a large issue.
Threats
Competitive Landscape: The tech industry is highly competitive, and the company may face intense competition from existing players or new entrants with similar or superior solutions.
Rapid Technological Advancements: Technological advancements and evolving industry standards can render the company's technology obsolete or less competitive if it fails to keep pace with innovation.
Regulatory and Legal Challenges: Compliance with data privacy regulations, intellectual property disputes, or changing regulatory landscapes may pose legal challenges and increase operational costs. Copyright laws have not yet caught up to the AI industry, but with recent visits to congress, rest assured that regulations will come soon.
Economic Volatility: Economic downturns or market uncertainties (like the ones we are currently experiencing) can impact customer spending, funding availability, or investor confidence, affecting the company's growth prospects. They have a solid product, but if they can monetize it is another story.