Group 1 - AI companies are engaging in aggressive subsidy strategies to attract users, with Google offering 15 months of free access to Gemini Advanced valued at approximately $300 [1][21] - Perplexity and Cursor have also launched similar initiatives, providing free memberships to students globally [2][19] - These actions are not purely altruistic but are part of a calculated growth strategy aimed at increasing Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) [3][6] Group 2 - Perplexity's revenue for 2024 is projected at $68 million, but discounts and promotions have significantly reduced its net income [4][10] - The strategy of offering free memberships allows companies to inflate their ARR figures, creating a façade of growth despite actual financial losses [8][9] - This approach has led to a dramatic increase in Perplexity's valuation from $500 million to $14 billion within a year, driven by user acquisition rather than genuine product improvements [10][11] Group 3 - The reliance on subsidies creates a precarious situation where stopping them could lead to a sharp decline in user numbers and ARR, resulting in valuation drops and funding difficulties [12][16] - Major players like OpenAI and Google are also participating in this subsidy war, not just for growth but to control user habits and data sources [19][20] - The long-term sustainability of such subsidy strategies is questionable, as they may lead to a cycle of dependency and financial instability for companies like Perplexity [28][32] Group 4 - The competition among AI startups is intense, with many lacking the necessary technological differentiation or ecosystem support to survive [33][44] - Companies that do not establish a unique value proposition or rely on external models face significant challenges in maintaining user engagement and profitability [54][62] - The future landscape may see a consolidation of AI firms, with those backed by larger ecosystems or possessing unique technologies having a better chance of survival [51][52][64]