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This page describes what the document states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability may vary by jurisdiction. Methodology
This is the Perplexity AI API Terms of Service, governing developer and business use of Perplexity's API to build applications powered by its AI search and answer capabilities. The agreement grants Perplexity a license to use content submitted through the API, including prompts and outputs, for purposes including service improvement, and caps Perplexity's liability to developers at amounts paid in the prior twelve months regardless of the nature of the loss. Perplexity reserves the right to suspend or terminate API access at its discretion, which creates operational dependency risk for applications built on the service.
This document governs developer access to and use of the Perplexity AI API, establishing the contractual basis under which developers may integrate Perplexity's AI-powered search and answer engine capabilities into third-party applications. The agreement states that developers must comply with Perplexity's usage policies and acceptable use requirements, that Perplexity retains ownership of the API and underlying models, and that developers grant Perplexity a license to use inputs and outputs submitted through the API for service improvement and safety purposes. The terms authorize Perplexity to suspend or terminate API access at its discretion, assert broad indemnification obligations on developers, and cap Perplexity's liability at amounts paid in the prior twelve months, which is a structurally significant limitation for enterprise deployments building revenue-generating products on the API. The document engages GDPR and CCPA where developers process personal data of EU or California residents through the API, and developers acting as data controllers or processors under those frameworks may have obligations not fully addressed by the agreement's terms. Material compliance considerations include data processing agreement requirements for EU-based deployments, the scope of the license granted over developer inputs and model outputs, and the absence of explicit SLA or uptime commitments relevant to operational dependency assessments.
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3 versions captured · Last updated: May 2026
Establishes exclusive jurisdiction in California courts and California law governance, potentially favoring Perplexity and limiting developers' ability to litigate in their home jurisdictions.
Removal eliminates developer liability for downstream end-user violations, substantially reducing developer risk exposure.
Removal of unilateral modification rights language suggests either removal of this power or relocation to another section, materially affecting Perplexity's flexibility to update terms unilaterally.
Scope expanded from 'analyze' to 'distribute' outputs, and purposes broadened from 'maintaining and improving the Service' to 'developing the Services,' giving Perplexity broader rights to redistribute user-generated content.
Liability cap calculation changed from 'greater of $100 or 3-month fees' to 12-month fees only, removing the minimum $100 floor and significantly increasing Perplexity's potential exposure for larger customers.
Removed the mandatory data destruction obligation upon termination, reducing post-termination compliance burden on developers.
Added 'affiliates' to protected parties and changed 'infringement of any intellectual property or other rights of any person or entity' to narrower 'violation of any third-party rights,' reducing indemnification scope slightly.
Removed competitive use restriction and high-risk application safeguard requirement, but added explicit prohibitions on deceptive practices, misinformation, and infrastructure abuse, shifting focus from competitive harm to content quality and infrastructure protection.
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