In a major move to grow its presence in professional networking, AI-driven search engine Perplexity has announced it is buying Read.cv. The announcement was made on January 17, 2025, and shows Perplexity’s commitment to improving user connections and making knowledge more accessible.
End of an Era for Read.cv
Read.cv was known as a simple and creative platform for professionals to share their work, projects, and achievements. Starting today, the platform will begin shutting down. Users have until May 16, 2025, to save their data, including profiles and messages, using a built-in data export tool. The team at Read.cv described the closure as “bittersweet,” reflecting on their platform’s focus on creativity and curiosity.
New Beginnings with Perplexity
Both companies view the acquisition as a perfect fit for their goals. Read.cv shared in a farewell blog post, “We’ve long admired Perplexity and believe great things happen when the world’s knowledge is made more open and accessible.” Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, expressed excitement about welcoming Read.cv’s design and engineering teams to work on shared goals of exploration and innovation using AI.
Backed by investors like Jeff Bezos and NVIDIA, Perplexity aims to combine AI with social innovation. This acquisition could help the company create new ways for professionals to connect and collaborate.
Reactions and Future Outlook
The news has brought mixed feelings from Read.cv users and the tech world. Many feel sad to see the platform close, but some are hopeful about the new possibilities. “It’s sad to see Read.cv sunset, but the merger with Perplexity could bring exciting new features for professionals,” commented one user online.
While Perplexity has not shared exact plans for how Read.cv’s features will be used, they have hinted at new ideas for improving professional networking with AI tools.
About the Companies
Perplexity: An AI-powered search engine focused on providing accurate answers and valued at $9 billion. It is supported by major investors like Jeff Bezos and NVIDIA.
Read.cv: A platform created by Andy Chung, a former designer at Facebook and Mozilla, known for emphasizing creativity in professional profiles.
This acquisition highlights the growing importance of AI and user-focused design in shaping how professionals connect and share online.