Apple Executives Hold Internal Talks to Acquire $14 Billion AI Startup Perplexity, No Formal Offer Yet

Apple Inc. executives have engaged in internal discussions about potentially acquiring Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup valued at approximately $14 billion. These talks, led by Adrian Perica, Apple's head of mergers and acquisitions, and involving senior leaders such as Eddy Cue, are aimed at strengthening Apple's AI capabilities and talent pool. The acquisition could enhance Apple's AI-driven search technology and reduce its reliance on Google, whose existing search agreement with Apple faces antitrust scrutiny.

While no formal offer has been made and discussions remain preliminary, Apple has also considered a possible partnership with Perplexity. The potential deal would mark Apple's largest acquisition to date, surpassing its historical $3 billion M&A threshold. Perplexity AI is recognized as a competitor to OpenAI's ChatGPT, and other major tech companies, including Meta, are also reportedly evaluating bids for the startup. The acquisition aligns with Apple's strategy to bolster its AI technology for products like Siri and the Safari browser, amid increasing competition in the AI sector.