Cristiano Ronaldo invests in Perplexity, ChatGPT's rival in AI
The Portuguese footballer's announcement on his social profiles
Cristiano Ronaldo has also decided to enter the artificial intelligence market. The Portuguese footballer, accustomed to moving capital and media attention in every sector he enters, has become a shareholder in Perplexity, an American company developing an AI-based search engine. A choice that shifts the centre of gravity of his non-sporting activities and confirms how the business of technology is now a breeding ground for global sports figures.
The announcement comes directly from the player's social profiles. Ronaldo uses simple, effective words, with a clear intent: to present the investment as a step consistent with his personal vision. "Curiosity is a requirement for greatness. You win when you keep asking new questions every day. That is why I am proud to announce my investment in Perplexity. Perplexity is fuelling the world's curiosity and, together, we will inspire everyone to ask more ambitious questions."
It is not just the choice itself that makes the headlines - the combination of sports star and technology startup, as mentioned, is quite common - as much as the fact that Ronaldo seems to be taking the operation as a new identity challenge. This had already been guessed in October, when on stage at the Portugal Football Globes, receiving the Prestige Award, he had dropped a hint, interweaving self-mockery and revelation: 'I have a few trophies at home, but I have to say that this one is special and beautiful. So I did a search on Perplexity, if you don't know, look it up to see what it is, and I got a little help'. That was the prelude, now it is the confirmation.
Perplexity, founded in 2022 by Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho and Andy Konwinski, is considered one of the most promising projects among ChatGPT's 'rivals'. It offers answers accompanied by sources, with a model that combines research, synthesis and conversation. A technology that aims to enter the hottest segment of the digital market, where users demand speed, reliability and interactive assistance.
Numbers compiled by Comscore help understand why Ronaldo's investment is not just a symbolic gesture. In Italy, monthly users of at least one AI application have exceeded 16 million, an increase of 89% in one year. While ChatGPT dominates with 14.7 million users, the most impressive growth concerns Perplexity: 745 thousand monthly users and a year-on-year growth rate of 2,351%.
