The AI search engine Perplexity has released a new commercial featuring Lee Jung-jae, the acclaimed actor from Netflix's hit series Squid Game. In the ad, Lee finds himself trapped in a confined room and must answer a series of questions to escape. The commercial not only showcases Perplexity's capabilities but also takes a playful jab at a notorious Google AI mishap from last year.

One of the questions posed to Lee Jung-jae is, "How do you make cheese stick to pizza?" This directly references a Google AI feature launched in 2024, which aimed to generate summary answers using web search results. However, the feature faced widespread criticism after it suggested mixing approximately 1/8 cup of Elmer's glue into the sauce to make the cheese adhere. This bizarre recommendation sparked both amusement and disbelief among users.

With competitors like Perplexity gaining traction, Google is under increasing pressure to refine its AI offerings. Earlier this month, Google announced plans to expand the visibility of its AI summaries, making them available for more queries. Meanwhile, Perplexity, which brands itself as an "answer engine," has recently faced accusations of plagiarism.

In a pivotal moment of the commercial, Lee Jung-jae pulls out his phone to search for answers. Initially, he tries a platform humorously named "Poogle," but the results are unsatisfactory. He then turns to Perplexity, where he receives a scientifically sound response: "Use fresh, low-moisture mozzarella cheese. Don't use glue." This answer not only provides practical advice but also cleverly underscores Google AI's earlier misstep.

The ad effectively combines entertainment with marketing, leveraging Lee Jung-jae's star power and humor to capture audience attention. By highlighting its ability to deliver accurate and reliable answers, Perplexity positions itself as a credible alternative to Google.

Key Points

1. Lee Jung-jae stars in Perplexity's new commercial, showcasing its search capabilities through an escape-room scenario.
2. The ad humorously critiques Google AI's 2024 suggestion of using glue to make cheese stick to pizza.
3. Perplexity emphasizes its ability to provide scientifically accurate answers over erroneous suggestions.
4. The commercial underscores growing competition in the AI search engine market, with Perplexity challenging Google's dominance.