What is Perplexity, the AI startup said to be catching Meta and Apple’s attention
A nearly three-year-old AI startup has caught Meta’s attention, and reportedly Apple’s too.
Meta spoke with AI search engine Perplexity about a potential acquisition, although a deal was not reached, according to sources familiar with the discussions. The talks were held in late April or early May, and were reported earlier by Bloomberg and The Information.
Separately, Apple internally discussed acquiring Perplexity, according to Bloomberg, which said the talks were in an early stage and may not result in a deal.
The talks come as Apple and Meta are perceived to be behind on their AI products and services while competitors like Google and OpenAI charge ahead. The tech giants’ interest underscores the fierce competition for AI talent in what some believe will be the next major evolution of the internet.
Jesse Dwyer, head of communications for Perplexity, declined to comment regarding the discussions with Meta. When asked about the internal Apple discussions, he said in an email to CNN: “We have no knowledge of any current or future M&A discussions involving Perplexity.”
Meta declined to comment. Apple did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
