Perplexity AI Updates: May 20, 2026

1. Perplexity lands at No. 31 on CNBC’s 2026 Disruptor 50 list with 92 percent Fortune 500 penetration

Perplexity. CNBC ranked Perplexity 31st on its 2026 Disruptor 50 list, citing $1.7 billion in funding and a customer footprint that now covers 92 percent of Fortune 500 companies. The ranking highlights distribution partnerships with Samsung, Deutsche Telekom, Vivo, and Airtel as a key driver of consumer reach, with Perplexity placed among the AI startups that have crossed the $10 billion valuation threshold. Anthropic took the top slot on the same list, underscoring how the competitive frame for Perplexity has shifted from search incumbents to other AI-native platforms. Source