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SIDE-BY-SIDE · 2 OF 3
Two platforms.
Same questions.
OpenAI API
DEVELOPER / CODING
PROMPT
API customers retain ownership of their inputs per OpenAI API Terms of Service.
OUTPUT
OpenAI assigns all its rights in outputs to API customers.
TRAINING
OpenAI Service Terms (January 9, 2026) apply to API and enterprise products. The Privacy Policy (May 18, 2026) explicitly states: 'This Privacy Policy does not apply to content that we process on behalf of customers of our business offerings, such as our API.' API customer data is governed by the customer's agreement with OpenAI. For ChatGPT (consumer), training opt-out is available via account settings or Temporary Chat.
COMMERCIAL
Commercial use of outputs is explicitly permitted for API customers.
182 verified findings across the displayed surfaces.
Perplexity AI
ENTERPRISE SEARCH / PRODUCTIVITY
PROMPT
Users retain ownership of their queries and uploaded content per Perplexity's Terms.
OUTPUT
Perplexity does not claim ownership of AI-generated answers. Output IP status is not explicitly addressed.
TRAINING
Privacy Policy (effective February 5, 2026) states Perplexity uses data 'to improve the Services (including our AI models).' Opt-out is explicitly available in settings. Email/calendar integration data is explicitly excluded from AI training: 'we do not use or disclose Email Service Information to create, train, improve or fine-tune AI models.'
COMMERCIAL
Commercial use governed by plan tier. API use is explicitly commercial-use-permitted.
118 verified findings across the displayed surfaces.
Empty Comparison Slot
AIRIN SUMMARY
OpenAI API carries highly permissive license terms; Perplexity AI carries highly permissive license terms.FOR ENTERPRISE: OPENAI API NOT RECOMMENDED · PERPLEXITY AI NOT RECOMMENDED
↳ Compliance surfaces · side by side
⚡ INTERACTIVE RISK COMPARISON HEATMAP
| RISK SURFACE | OPENAI API | PERPLEXITY AI |
|---|---|---|
| PPrompt Ownership | ||
| OOutput Ownership | ||
| TModel Training | ||
| CCommercial Use | ||
| DData Privacy | ||
| $Tier Differences |
* Click any cell in the heatmap matrix to scroll directly to its verbatim policy citations below.
📂 Intellectual Property & Model Training
P
SURFACE 01
Prompt Ownership
OpenAI API
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
API customers retain ownership of their inputs per OpenAI API Terms of Service.
“ We and our affiliates own all rights, title, and interest in and to the Services. You may only use our name and logo in accordance with our Brand Guidelines . ”
Perplexity AI
MEDHIGH
Users retain ownership of their queries and uploaded content per Perplexity's Terms.
“- Your input and output, such as questions, prompts and other content that you input, upload or submit to the Services, and the output that you create, and any collections or pages that you generate using the Services (“ **Service Interaction Information**”). Service Interaction…”
O
SURFACE 02
Output Ownership
OpenAI API
MEDHIGH
OpenAI assigns all its rights in outputs to API customers.
“ YOU ACCEPT AND AGREE THAT ANY USE OF OUTPUTS FROM OUR SERVICE IS AT YOUR SOLE RISK AND YOU WILL NOT RELY ON OUTPUT AS A SOLE SOURCE OF TRUTH OR FACTUAL INFORMATION, OR AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. ”
Perplexity AI
HIGH
Perplexity does not claim ownership of AI-generated answers. Output IP status is not explicitly addressed.
No citation available
T
SURFACE 03
Model Training
OpenAI API
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
OpenAI Service Terms (January 9, 2026) apply to API and enterprise products. The Privacy Policy (May 18, 2026) explicitly states: 'This Privacy Policy does not apply to content that we process on behalf of customers of our business offerings, such as our API.' API customer data is governed by the customer's agreement with OpenAI. For ChatGPT (consumer), training opt-out is available via account settings or Temporary Chat.
“Improve and develop our Services and conduct research, including using your Content to train our models (subject to your [control”
User content (including prompts and uploads) is used to train models by default; opt-out is available but must be actively exercised. The parenthetical 'subject to your control' links to external controls documentation, meaning users who do not proactively manage settings may have their content used for training.
Perplexity AI
LOW⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Privacy Policy (effective February 5, 2026) states Perplexity uses data 'to improve the Services (including our AI models).' Opt-out is explicitly available in settings. Email/calendar integration data is explicitly excluded from AI training: 'we do not use or disclose Email Service Information to create, train, improve or fine-tune AI models.'
“You may also have the ability to sync your third party email account or calendar (such as Gmail and Google Calendar) with the Services. If you choose to sync these accounts, we will have access to your contacts and information from the email messages and calendar appointments in…”
C
SURFACE 04
Commercial Use
OpenAI API
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Commercial use of outputs is explicitly permitted for API customers.
“ Parents or guardians of teen users for account linking purposes described above Other users and third parties you interact or share information with”
Perplexity AI
HIGH
Commercial use governed by plan tier. API use is explicitly commercial-use-permitted.
No citation available
📂 Data Privacy & Governance
D
SURFACE 05
Data Privacy
OpenAI API
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
API/Enterprise: data governed by customer agreements; no training use by default. ChatGPT Free/Go: may include targeted advertising and model training by default (opt-out available). Healthcare Addendum available for HIPAA-covered use cases.
“ Our Services are not directed to, or intended for, children under 13. We do not knowingly collect Personal Data from children under 13. If you have reason to believe that a child under 13 has provided Personal Data to OpenAI through the Services, please email us at privacy@open…”
Perplexity AI
MED⚠ CAUTIONHIGH
Standard plan: personal, non-commercial use only. Enterprise terms at perplexity.ai/hub/legal/enterprise-terms-of-service. Email/calendar integration data explicitly excluded from AI model training.
“We retain your information for as long as is reasonably necessary for the purposes specified in this Privacy Policy. When determining the length of time to retain your information, we consider various criteria, including whether we need the information to continue to provide you…”
No fixed retention schedules are provided; retention is effectively open-ended tied to broad business purposes.
$
SURFACE 06
Tier Differences
OpenAI API
MEDHIGH
API/Enterprise: data governed by customer agreements; no training use by default. ChatGPT Free/Go: may include targeted advertising and model training by default (opt-out available). Healthcare Addendum available for HIPAA-covered use cases.
“ Service credits. You can pay for some Services in advance by purchasing service credits. All service credits are subject to our Service Credit Terms . ”
Perplexity AI
LOWHIGH
Standard plan: personal, non-commercial use only. Enterprise terms at perplexity.ai/hub/legal/enterprise-terms-of-service. Email/calendar integration data explicitly excluded from AI model training.
“ This Privacy Policy describes how Perplexity AI, Inc. (“ we ”, “ us ,” “ our ”) collects, uses and discloses information about individuals who use our websites ( www.perplexity.ai and https://labs.perplexity.ai ) to access the free version of our product or Perplexity Pro or Per…”