Perplexity AI has signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Getty Images, providing its users access to one of the world’s largest image libraries. The partnership aims to combine high-quality, verified visuals with Perplexity’s AI-powered search tools while ensuring proper attribution and copyright compliance.

Under the deal, Perplexity will use Getty’s API to integrate stock and editorial photos directly into its search results. Each image will include appropriate credit and a link to the original source, an initiative Getty says will help educate users on legally using licensed imagery. The move comes amid growing concerns over copyright and transparency in the generative AI sector.

Perplexity has faced multiple legal challenges over content use. In August 2025, Japanese publishers Nikkei and Asahi Shimbun sued the company for allegedly copying and misattributing their content. Reddit has also filed a lawsuit accusing Perplexity and other AI firms of scraping data without proper licensing, and dictionary publishers have pursued similar claims.

For Getty, the partnership represents a cautious but strategic engagement with AI. The company previously banned AI-generated art in 2022 due to copyright concerns and later sued Stability AI, the creator of Stable Diffusion, for allegedly training its models on millions of Getty-owned images.

Nick Unsworth, Vice President of Strategic Development at Getty Images, said the collaboration supports AI platforms in enhancing the quality and accuracy of information delivered to users, while creating a more reliable and engaging experience.

For Perplexity, the agreement provides a path to rebuild trust and strengthen its AI search offerings with verified visuals, an essential step as regulatory scrutiny and ethical expectations in the AI industry increase.