AI search startups are blowing up

Key points

• In Brief Yesterday’s big news was Google’s plan to blow up its traditional Search in favor of an AI-powered experience — but Google isn’t the only company planning for the next generation of discoverability.
• This morning, Bloomberg has news of the Andreessen-backed Exa Labs, which has raised $250 million against a $2.5 billion valuation to go after the same market.
• And it’s part of a wave of startups all chasing AI search, which has quietly become one of the most attractive targets in consumer AI.
• From Bloomberg Exa is part of a wave of startups that are vying to transform the search industry, including Tavily, TinyFish and Parallel Web Systems.
• Led by former Twitter Chief Executive Officer Parag Agrawal, Parallel recently raised $100 million at a $2 billion valuation in a round led by venture firm Sequoia Capital, according to the Wall Street Journal.