AI Search: Perplexity, Google AI Mode, ChatGPT Search — 2026-09-16
Profound secured a massive $180M funding round at a $1.8B valuation, signaling intense brand competition for visibility in AI answer engines. Meanwhile, the New York Times and OpenAI copyright litigation heats up, and German media reports highlight significant revenue drops for online retailers due to reduced organic search traffic.
AI Search: Perplexity, Google AI Mode, ChatGPT Search — 2026-09-16
Top developments
Profound raises $180M to dominate AI answer engine optimization
On September 15, 2026, Profound announced a $180 million Series D round led by Sequoia Capital and Kleiner Perkins, valuing the company at $1.8 billion—nearly double its February valuation. The startup sells tools that help brands maintain visibility within AI-generated answers from platforms like ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, and Perplexity. This funding surge underscores the critical importance of "Generative Engine Optimization" (GEO) as traditional SEO metrics decline in relevance for brand discoverability.
NYT vs. OpenAI copyright battle intensifies
As of September 8, 2026, the high-stakes copyright lawsuit between The New York Times and OpenAI (backed by Microsoft) is entering a critical phase. A ruling in favor of the Times could fundamentally disrupt the business models of major AI companies by establishing strict liability for training data usage. This case serves as a bellwether for all AI search providers, including Perplexity and Google, regarding their reliance on copyrighted news content.
German e-commerce faces revenue drop due to AI search shifts
Recent reports from Germany indicate that online retail revenue has fallen from €35 billion to €28 billion, a shift attributed largely to AI-driven search changes. As AI search platforms like Perplexity and Google AI Overviews provide direct answers, traditional organic traffic to merchants and publishers has declined, forcing a strategic pivot toward paid AI visibility and direct customer relationships.
Local view
Germany: Media outlet ad-hoc-news.de highlights the severe impact of AI search on the local e-commerce sector, noting that the drop in organic reach is forcing retailers to reconsider their marketing spend. The report emphasizes that while AI optimization firms like Profound are attracting billions in investment, traditional publishers and merchants in the DACH region are struggling to adapt to the new zero-click reality.
Context & numbers
- Profound Valuation: $1.8 billion (up from ~$900M in Feb 2026).
- German E-commerce Revenue: Declined from €35 billion to €28 billion.
- OpenAI Deep Research: Expanded to ChatGPT Work and Codex on September 9, 2026, allowing deeper web research with cited outputs.
On the radar
- Google Search Update Signs: Search forums reported signs of a major Google Search update lurking as of September 15, 2026, potentially affecting AI Overview integration and ranking signals.
- AI Training Opt-Outs: Malwarebytes Labs published step-by-step opt-out instructions for ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude following reports of contractors reviewing user prompts for training data.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
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