Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas ‘challenges’ Elon Musk on $500 billion USAID funding: ‘Stop me if you can’

Amid the ongoing crackdown on the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, Indian-origin CEO of Perplexity AI, Aravind Srinivas, has thrown a curious challenge to tech billionaire to stop him from raising funds from the federal agency. Elon Musk recently described USAID as a “criminal organisation” as Trump attempts to shut it down.

“Considering raising $500B from USAID. Funding secured. Stop me if you can @elonmusk What is USAID? [sic]” wrote Srinivas in a post on X.