ISLAMABAD:
Apple Inc. has reportedly held internal discussions about acquiring artificial intelligence startup Perplexity, according to a Bloomberg News report.
The talks are said to be in their preliminary stages, and no official offer has yet been made to Perplexity’s management.
Bloomberg cited sources familiar with the matter who confirmed that Apple executives have considered the idea, but it remains unclear if the tech giant will proceed further.
Perplexity, when approached by Reuters, denied any knowledge of merger or acquisition discussions.
Competition Grows in AI Sector
Apple’s interest in Perplexity reflects its broader ambitions in the AI space, as competitors like Meta and Google ramp up investments in generative AI.
Just last week, Meta was reported to have tried to acquire Perplexity as well, while also announcing a $14.8 billion investment in Scale AI.
Meta also appointed Scale AI CEO Alexandr Wang to lead its superintelligence division, signaling a major push in next-generation AI capabilities.
AI Integration in Safari Could Shift Market
Within Apple, the acquisition idea was reportedly discussed by Adrian Perica, the company’s head of M&A, along with services chief Eddy Cue and Apple’s leading AI strategists.
The potential move to integrate AI search features from Perplexity into the Safari browser could challenge Apple’s long-standing deal with Google.
This also comes amid U.S. Justice Department efforts to curb Google’s dominance by banning it from paying partners to remain the default search engine.
Perplexity, now valued at $14 billion after a recent funding round, is seen as a key player in the rise of AI-driven search, particularly among younger users.
If Apple goes forward, the deal would mark one of its largest acquisitions in history, solidifying its position in the evolving AI market.
