AI Pulse · Business Models & Winners

Perplexity’s annualised revenue reportedly rose from $232 million at the end of 2025 to $750 million in August 2026. The big change was February’s launch of Perplexity Computer, an agent product that adds usage-based credits on top of its existing subscription plans, which range from $20 to $200 a month.

That matters because it shows a clearer commercial model for AI agents. A standard subscription covers regular use. Credits cover the heavier, more expensive work an agent does when it carries out tasks on a user’s behalf. The company isn’t asking customers to abandon the familiar seat model. It’s giving its most active customers a reason to spend more as they get more value.

For operators, this is the pattern to watch when assessing AI tools. Don’t just ask whether an agent can perform a task. Ask what triggers extra consumption, who approves that spend, and whether the outcome is measurable enough to justify it. A low monthly price can look attractive until automated work starts consuming credits without clear controls.

The commercial lesson is simple. AI vendors are finding that the strongest revenue model may be a base subscription plus metered agent activity. If you’re building AI into your own operations, you’ll need the same discipline around permissions, budgets, usage visibility, and return on each workflow. This is the kind of thing we build into an AI command centre.