Apple executives are reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring Perplexity AI, a notable player in the AI startup sector known for its AI-powered web search capabilities. Discussions have involved key figures such as mergers and acquisitions chief Adrian Perica and services head Eddy Cue.
According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, these talks are still in their infancy and may not necessarily lead to a formal offer. While Apple has not commented on the matter, Perplexity has stated it is unaware of any current or future merger discussions.
The decision on whether Apple will pursue this acquisition may be influenced by the ongoing antitrust trial against Google. This trial could potentially undermine Apple’s lucrative arrangement with Google, which designates them as the default search engine on Apple devices.
Currently, this deal generates approximately $20 billion annually for Apple. Considering Perplexity’s latest funding round valued the company at around $14 billion, an acquisition would mark a historic financial move for Apple, surpassing its previous purchase of Beats for $3 billion.
An alternative to the acquisition might involve a partnership between Apple and Perplexity, where Apple integrates Perplexity’s AI search features into its Safari browser and Siri. The two companies have held several discussions on this front.
However, complicating matters, Perplexity is reportedly nearing a significant agreement with Samsung, which would implement its AI features in Samsung smartphones, potentially impacting any future collaboration with Apple. As Apple navigates these talks, the tech landscape remains highly dynamic, with the outcomes of these discussions likely to shape both Apple’s AI strategy and its competitive positioning in the market.
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