Apple explores acquisition of Perplexity, a $14B AI search startup backed by Nvidia, to boost Safari and reduce reliance on Google.
A stunning move could be on the horizon in the AI world. According to Bloomberg, Apple executives have quietly held internal talks about potentially acquiring Perplexity, the fast-rising AI search startup that’s quickly gaining ground as a major player in the space. If this deal goes through, it could become Apple’s biggest acquisition yet, with Perplexity recently being valued at a massive $14 billion.
Insiders say these discussions are still in their early stages and “may not lead to an offer,” but the very idea that Apple is considering buying a company like Perplexity shows how serious the tech giant is about stepping deeper into the AI race.
Interestingly, Perplexity has denied any knowledge of such talks. “We have no knowledge of any current or future M&A discussions involving Perplexity,” the company said in response to Reuters.
But Apple isn’t alone in eyeing the AI upstart. Earlier this year, Meta also attempted to acquire Perplexity, signaling intense interest from major tech players. Meta recently invested $14.8 billion in Scale AI and brought in CEO Alexandr Wang to lead its new superintelligence unit.
Inside Apple’s AI Ambitions
Apple’s top M&A executive Adrian Perica, along with services chief Eddy Cue and senior AI leadership, is said to be exploring how Perplexity could help boost Apple’s AI strategy. One key focus? Enhancing Safari search. By potentially integrating Perplexity’s AI-powered tech, Apple could move away from its long-time reliance on Google for search results.
This shift could also align with a growing push from U.S. regulators to limit Google’s dominance in the search market. In fact, the U.S. Department of Justice has proposed stopping Google from paying companies to stay as the default search engine.
Why Perplexity?
Perplexity isn’t just another AI company. It’s backed by Nvidia, offers intelligent AI search tools, and provides real-time information summaries, similar to ChatGPT or Google Gemini. Its rising popularity, especially among younger users, signals a shift in how people are searching and consuming information online.
With AI-powered search becoming a new battleground, Apple’s interest in Perplexity could be the move that redefines its role in this space.
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