Yes, Perplexity can use your searches to train its AI models if you use the Free, Pro or Max plan, because its Help Center says AI data retention is turned on by default for those users. Perplexity says data from Perplexity Enterprise is never used for AI training.
As of November 3, 2026, you can opt out by opening Account settings, going to Preferences and turning off the AI data retention toggle, which another Help Center page calls AI Data Usage. Perplexity says the opt-out only covers data collected after you switch it off, and training data it has already collected cannot be deleted or removed.
The setting applies to each individual user. If an Enterprise subscription lapses and the account moves to a Free or other non-Enterprise plan, the consumer policy applies and AI data retention is on again by default, so you need to turn it off yourself. Perplexity also says searches made in Incognito mode are never stored.
Related: Is Perplexity free?, Perplexity Agent API guide and Does ChatGPT train on your data?
Source: Perplexity Help Center, “Data Collection at Perplexity”; Perplexity Help Center, “Account & Settings”
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