Apple Considers Buying AI Startup Perplexity: Report

Apple is reportedly exploring a potential acquisition of Aravind Srinivas-cofounded Perplexity AI to boost its artificial intelligence capabilities.

A Bloomberg report, citing people close to the matter, said that Apple executives have held internal talks about potentially bidding for Perplexity AI. Discussions remain at an early stage and the company has not engaged directly with Perplexity’s executives.

Adrian Perica, Apple’s head of mergers and acquisitions, reportedly discussed the potential of integrating Perplexity’s AI-driven search tools with Apple’s services chief Eddy Cue and other AI leaders.

However, Perplexity said that it has no knowledge of any current or future M&A discussions involving the startup.

Meanwhile, Apple did not respond to Bloomberg’s queries.

If the Apple’s buyout deal of Perplexity materialises, it would be one of its biggest acquisitions after Beat, which was bought for $3 Bn in 2014.

Perplexity was valued at $14 Bn in its last funding round.

With this acquisition, Apple plans to integrate Perplexity’s AI search engine with its web browser Safari.

(The story will be updated soon)

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