AI Search
Perplexity
Medium riskAI answer engine that combines web search with LLM-generated responses, including file upload and deep-research modes.
Is Perplexity safe for confidential data?
Perplexity queries read like search but carry chatbot-grade payloads: employees paste whole client paragraphs and upload documents to get grounded answers. On free and Pro accounts, data may be used for model training unless the user turns off the "AI data retention" setting; Enterprise excludes customer data from training and adds admin controls. The searchlike feel makes people paste things into Perplexity they would never type into a search box knowingly.
Risk by plan
The same product often carries very different terms depending on the tier — consumer plans are where the exposure concentrates.
Per-user data-usage toggle; file uploads included; no organizational visibility.
No training on customer data, SSO, admin console, user management.
Data handling
Training on inputs
Free and Pro: queries and uploads may be used for model training unless the user turns off the "AI data retention" setting (on by default). Enterprise: no training on customer data.
Retention
Threads and uploaded files are retained in the account until deleted; Enterprise adds admin-managed retention.
Residency
Processed in U.S. cloud infrastructure; queries are also routed to third-party model providers under Perplexity's agreements.
Compliance
- SOC 2Yes
- GDPR / DPAConditional
- HIPAA BAAConditional
Certifications typically apply to specific tiers and contracts — confirm scope in writing before relying on them.
New to these frameworks? See our plain-language guides to SOC 2 and the other AI compliance standards.
Enterprise controls
- SSO (Enterprise Pro)
- Admin console and seat management
- Training exclusion (Enterprise Pro)
- File-upload controls
Frequently asked questions
Does Perplexity train on my searches?
On free and Pro accounts, queries and uploaded files may be used for model training unless the user turns off the "AI data retention" setting, which is on by default. Enterprise accounts are excluded from training.
Is Perplexity safe for confidential research?
The question is what goes into the query. A search phrased around a live deal, client name, or case detail — or an uploaded document — puts confidential material in a third-party service under consumer terms. Enterprise Pro narrows the contractual exposure; redaction narrows the practical one.
Why do employees leak more into AI search than regular search?
Because it rewards context: the more background you paste, the better the answer. That incentive is exactly what prompt-level redaction is for — Sanitized AI strips identifiers before the query leaves the browser.
Policy changelog
- Initial entry published from Perplexity's published policies.
Sources
This profile summarizes the vendor's published policies as of the verification date. It is not legal advice.
Perplexity is probably already in your organization.
Sanitized AI shows you who is using it and redacts sensitive data from prompts before it leaves your control.
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