Perplexity could also be on Apple’s acquisition listing
Maybe in an acquihire to spice up search, or to enhance Siri, Apple executives have reportedly just lately mentioned shopping for or partnering with AI startup Perplexity.
The 2 executives linked to discussions are stated to be the corporate’s head of mergers Adrian Perica, and Eddy Cue. In keeping with unnamed sources inside Apple, inside discussions are in a really early stage, and there has not but been a suggestion made.
Additionally a chance is a team-up with Perplexity, somewhat than an outright purchase. Any partnership would put Perplexity in Safari, and maybe built-in into the long-delayed improved Siri undertaking, that’s no longer anticipated to ship till 2026.
The report on Friday by Bloomberg discusses that the transfer could get made to assist Apple develop an AI-powered search engine. Google pays Apple about $20 billion a yr to be the first search engine on the iPhone and Mac, however that deal is in peril after antitrust and regulatory discussions.
If a deal is reached to purchase Perplexity, the deal can be the most important in Apple historical past, and never by a bit. Perplexity is valued at about $14 billion. This far eclipses the deal that Apple made in 2014 for Beats, which price the corporate $3 billion.
The information could not come as a large shock, if you happen to’ve been following the Google antitrust trial. On the stand, Cue was clear that they’d talked at the very least some with Perplexity.
“We have been fairly impressed with what Perplexity has achieved, so we have began some discussions with them about what they’re doing,” Cue stated, whereas beneath oath.
Past even that, the report is not outdoors the realm of chance. Earlier rumors and Craig Federighi himself have stated that Apple is taking a look at working with a number of companions to ship an assortment of AI and search choices for customers.
The primary identify tied to Apple’s AI effort is clearly OpenAI. Earlier than the Apple Intelligence rollout, Google and Meta have been named as attainable contributors.
Anthropic and Perplexity have been additionally talked about, at the very least in passing.
To us, it appears extra probably that Apple is coping with AI suppliers the identical manner they deal with {hardware} part suppliers. Having a number of suppliers on the hook, because it have been, on this case could finally give customers extra selection, however can even hold prices down for Apple.
