Apple is looking at a possible$14 billion deal to buy Perplexity AI, a fast-growing startup known for its conversational search tech. According to recent reports, Apple’s Eddy Cue and Adrian Perica have discussed the idea internally, aiming to boost Apple’s on-device search and cut back on its long-term reliance on Google. If this goes through, it would be Apple’s biggest acquisition ever—way beyond the$3 billion it spent on Beats in 2014.
Why Perplexity?
Perplexity AI has made a name for itself by delivering real-time, chat-style answers to user questions, pulling in the latest info from across the web. The company now handles over 780 million queries a month, with usage climbing more than 20% each month. This kind of growth and engagement has caught the attention of not just Apple, but also Meta and Samsung, both of which have reportedly explored deals with Perplexity as well Fortune, MacRumors.
For Apple, the appeal is clear. The company’s current deal with Google—making Google the default search engine on Apple devices—brings in about$20 billion a year. But that partnership is under pressure from US antitrust regulators, and Apple’s own AI efforts, like Siri, have lagged behind. Buying Perplexity could give Apple a shortcut to a stronger, AI-powered search experience built right into its devices.
What Could Change?
If Apple pulls the trigger, it would get more than just new tech. Perplexity’s team and its approach to conversational search could help Apple refresh Siri and Safari, making them more competitive with Google and OpenAI. There’s also talk that Apple could simply partner with Perplexity instead of buying it outright, adding its search engine as an option in Safari or integrating it into Siri ZDNet.
But there are hurdles. Perplexity is reportedly close to a deal with Samsung, which could complicate things for Apple. And with Meta also in the mix—having already tried to buy Perplexity before investing$14.3 billion in Scale AI—the competition for top AI talent and technology is heating up DQIndia.
The Bigger Picture
This possible deal signals a shift in how tech giants are thinking about search and AI. Instead of just improving voice assistants, companies are racing to own the next wave of AI-powered search. For Apple, snapping up Perplexity would be a clear sign that it’s ready to spend big to stay in the game—and it could push other companies to make their own big moves in AI.
Whether Apple ends up buying Perplexity or just partnering with it, the message is clear: the race to build smarter, more helpful AI search tools is on, and the stakes are higher than ever.
Sources:
Post a comment