Why Does Perplexity Collect Personal Data?
Data collection is foundational for product functionality, account security, improving services, and (if not opted out) advancing AI training for a better user experience.
Perplexity collects personal data for several essential purposes outlined in our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy:
Service functionality and security: Data collection enables core features, account security, and continuity of service
Account management: Personal information (account details, email addresses) is necessary to create and manage accounts, process payments, and secure access
Product improvement: Information about device and site interactions (search queries, usage data) helps enhance functionality, troubleshoot issues, and develop new features
AI model training: Some data may be used to train AI models and improve search quality, unless you opt out through Account Settings
Data privacy commitment: Perplexity does not sell your data. Information is only shared with trusted service providers (payment processors, customer support) or when required by law.
For complete details about data types, uses, and opt-out options, review our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
How to Opt Out of AI Training Data Collection
Perplexity Enterprise data is never used for AI training purposes.
For Free, Perplexity Pro and Perplexity Max users, AI Data Retention is enabled by default. However, these users can control whether their data is used for AI model training. To do so:
Navigate to your Account settings
Go to the Preferences page
Locate the AI data retention toggle
If the toggle is enabled, your data is being collected for AI training
Toggle off to opt out of AI training data collection
Please note that:
Opt-outs only apply to data collected after the opt-out date
Previously collected training data cannot be deleted or removed
The opt-in/out setting applies to individual users only
Enterprise customers’ data is never used or retained for training AI models
What opting out does NOT affect:
Core Perplexity features remain fully functional
Data may still be processed for service operation, legal compliance, and product improvement
If you have any additional concerns, contact us and we’ll be happy to help.
Data Collection for Enterprise Users
As a Perplexity Enterprise user, your data is never used for AI training purposes.
Enterprise Pro and Enterprise Max users benefit from additional data protection:
No AI training: Query information is never used to train Perplexity's models
Limited retention: Uploaded files are retained for only 7 days
Admin controls: Organizations with 50+ Enterprise Pro seats or 1 Enterprise Max seat can set custom data retention periods and force deletion at any time
Third-party protections: Strict Zero Data Retention and Zero Data Training agreements with AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, and more) prevent training on Enterprise data
Is our organization’s data used for training purposes if our subscription lapses?
If your Perplexity Enterprise subscription lapses temporarily or goes into a past-due status, you may lose access to Enterprise, Pro, or Max features until billing is resolved. However, your organization’s data remains fully protected and is not used for AI training under any circumstances.
If you choose to downgrade to a Free or non-Enterprise plan, your data would then follow the standard consumer data policy, where AI data retention is enabled by default. In that case, you’ll need to manually opt out of AI data usage in your Account Settings to prevent your activity from being used to improve Perplexity’s models.