How will Perplexity's acquisition boost design innovation?
Perplexity brings in the team behind Visual Electric, merging AI tools with spatial design workflows to reshape how designers create and prototype across images and video.
Perplexity acquired the team behind Visual Electric, a Sequoia-backed AI design startup. The Visual Electric team joined a new Agent Experiences group at Perplexity to integrate advanced design tools and workflows into its AI products.
Visual Electric launched in 2022. The company was founded by Colin Dunn, Adam Menges, and Zach Stiggelbout. Dunn previously worked at Facebook and Dropbox, Menges at Apple, and Stiggelbout at Microsoft. The platform allowed designers to create and edit images on an infinite canvas. It supported ideation, concept development, and project prototyping in a spatial workspace rather than a linear interface.
Visual Electric later added video generation features. The platform was adopted by teams at companies including Stripe, Affirm, and Riot Games, as well as design studios such as Instrument and Manual. The company raised $2.5 million in funding from Sequoia, BoxGroup, and Designer Fund.
The product provided a digital workspace resembling a whiteboard. Users could layer ideas, iterate quickly, and experiment in a flexible space. The focus remained on enabling designers to explore creativity efficiently with AI-assisted tools.
Transitioning to Perplexity
Perplexity announced the acquisition on October 1, 2025. Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, confirmed the acquisition with a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The integration ensures that the team’s expertise in design workflows and creative tools becomes part of Perplexity’s platform. Visual Electric’s features, including the infinite canvas, spatial editing, and video generation, will be incorporated into Perplexity’s AI tools.
Enhancing Design Workflows with AI
Users have a 90-day window to export content before Visual Electric’s shutdown. Prorated refunds are issued to subscribers. The team’s workflows and features will be integrated into Perplexity’s platform. The infinite canvas, spatial editing, and video generation capabilities will become part of Perplexity’s AI design tools.
The Agent Experiences group combines Visual Electric’s design expertise with Perplexity’s AI capabilities. Features for spatial exploration, layering, and iteration will support creative workflows and project development.
The integration strengthens Perplexity’s AI tools for designers. Workflows that previously existed in Visual Electric’s platform will be embedded in Perplexity products. Users will experience flexible, intuitive, and interactive tools for content creation and project prototyping.
The collaboration merges Visual Electric’s design-first approach with Perplexity’s AI infrastructure. Users can interact with AI tools through spatial workflows and flexible interfaces that match designer processes.
Over the coming months, the team will consolidate knowledge and integrate features from Visual Electric into Perplexity’s platforms. Users will have access to enhanced AI-assisted design tools with improved functionality and usability.
The acquisition enhances Perplexity’s ability to support creative work across image and video projects. Visual Electric’s founders will continue to develop design features within Perplexity, making advanced workflows available to a wider audience.
Key Takeaways
- Perplexity acquired Visual Electric's team to integrate advanced AI design tools.
- The acquisition enhances Perplexity's AI capabilities with spatial design workflows.
- Visual Electric's team brings expertise in AI-powered image and video creation for designers.
- The move aims to reshape design and prototyping across various media within Perplexity's products.