Aravind Srinivas is an Indian computer scientist, AI researcher, and entrepreneur. He is best known as the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Perplexity, an AI-powered answer engine. ^{[1] [2]} His career includes research positions at several prominent artificial intelligence laboratories, including OpenAI, Google, and DeepMind. ^[2]

Education

Srinivas holds multiple advanced degrees in engineering and computer science. He earned both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT Madras). Following his time at IIT Madras, he moved to the United States to pursue doctoral studies. He completed a Ph.D. in Computer Science at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley). ^[2]

Career

Early Research Career

Before co-founding Perplexity, Srinivas built a career as an AI research scientist at several of the world's leading AI research institutions. He held research scientist roles at DeepMind, Google, and OpenAI, where he contributed to advancements in the field of artificial intelligence before transitioning into an entrepreneurial role. ^[2]

Perplexity

Srinivas is a co-founder of Perplexity and serves as its chief executive. The company operates an AI-powered "answer engine" designed to provide users with secure and accurate answers to their queries by synthesizing information from the web. The platform serves a wide-ranging audience that includes individuals, corporations, financial professionals, students, publishers, and other decision-makers. As of early 2025, the service was reported to be handling over 10 billion answers annually. The company is supported by a network of investors and advisors that includes prominent research scientists, top-tier venture capitalists, and the founders of other major technology companies. ^[2]

Views on Artificial Intelligence and Education

Srinivas has publicly commented on the potential impact of artificial intelligence on the field of computer science, particularly in education. He has articulated the view that AI could fundamentally alter how computer science is taught in academic institutions. ^[3]

Srinivas suggests that as AI tools become more capable of handling low-level programming and code generation, the focus of computer science education may shift. He has stated that the curriculum could evolve to prioritize higher-level skills such as system design, creative problem-solving, and theoretical concepts. In this view, computer science could increasingly become a domain focused on advanced mathematics and logic, moving away from an emphasis on rote memorization of programming syntax. ^[4]

Public Engagements and Media Appearances

AI at Princeton Lecture

On October 24, 2025, Srinivas was a featured speaker at a lecture series hosted by "AI at Princeton." The event took place at the Friend Center 101 on the Princeton University campus. His talk was part of a series that features prominent figures from academic and industry research in the field of artificial intelligence. ^[2]

CNBC Interview

Srinivas appeared in a full-length interview with CNBC that was broadcast on March 12, 2026. In the discussion, he addressed Perplexity's position in the competitive AI landscape, the company's business strategy, and his vision for the future of information discovery and answer engines, particularly in relation to established search giants. ^[5]