Perplexity website undergoing partial outage as ads start rolling out

Perplexity.ai users are reporting disruptions as the site deals with a “partial outage” while introducing sponsored content. The platform’s status page lists the outage but provides no specific details. Some users have noted the issue is more common on mobile devices, with desktop access appearing unaffected.

Complaints on Reddit describe errors like perpetually loading responses or input fields changing to “N/A.” A few speculate that the problem could be linked to VPN use, while others report encountering it after downgrading from Perplexity Pro.

Since Perplexity hasn’t provided any specific details nor an ETA for a fix, users will simply have to wait for the issue to be resolved. Hopefully, that fix will come sooner rather than later. At the same time, Perplexity has started displaying sponsored answers. A screenshot shared on X shows promoted queries, such as one from TurboTax.

Reactions have been mixed. While some users are disappointed to see ads on the platform, others see it as inevitable for a free-to-use service. Some also rightfully worry about conflicts of interest, especially if paid content interferes with the platform’s commitment to providing unbiased information.

My two cents on ads is that as long as they’re clearly marked as sponsored and we have other organic-related content, it’s fine. This is exactly the way Perplexity seems to be handling sponsored queries right now.

Adding to the conversation, Perplexity’s CEO Aravind Srinivas announced a free trial of Perplexity Pro for Canadian users, tying the offer to Justin Trudeau’s resignation as Prime Minister. The gesture drew both praise for its creativity and lighthearted remarks about Canada’s political situation.

It’s unclear if these developments are related to the partial outage, however, we’ll keep track of the situation and will update the article if there’s something to share. In the meantime, feel free to let us know if you’ve also encountered issues when accessing the platform or if you’ve seen sponsored content.