As competition in the artificial intelligence industry intensifies, two of the world’s most valuable companies – Meta and Apple, have set their sights on Perplexity AI, a fast-rising AI company.
Founded in 2022, the San Francisco–based company now finds itself at the centre of one of the most high-stakes acquisition rumours in the AI space.
According to reports, both Apple and Meta have expressed strong interest in acquiring Perplexity AI. This interest by two rival tech giants suggests that Perplexity offers something more than another chatbot.
The Power of Perplexity
Founded by Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski, Perplexity AI operates one of the most promising AI-powered search tools, built on its own Sonar large language model (LLM) and compatible with other leading LLMs.
Users can select the model they prefer and engage with the engine in natural conversation, receiving responses complete with source-linked footnotes and real-time updates.
These features have helped it attract over 15 million users, making it a breakout contender against Google Search and ChatGPT.
How Perplexity Could Impact Apple
While Apple was an early AI pioneer with Siri, its interest in acquiring Perplexity may signal a strategic dominance of the industry. A Perplexity acquisition could allow Apple to:
- Build a native AI search alternative to reduce dependence on Google
- Boost the functionality of Apple Intelligence with more flexible LLMs
- Integrate a refined, Apple-aligned search experience across iOS, macOS, and Safari
- Absorb a world-class AI team with proven speed in feature deployment
Perplexity’s Impact on Meta
Meta has never shied away from acquisitions. The company recently acquired Scale AI in a $14.3 billion deal. With Perplexity, Meta could fast-track its dominance. Acquiring Perplexity could give Meta:
- A Google Search rival embedded within Instagram, Facebook, and Threads
- A conversational AI tuned for voice-based experiences
- A way to power its Llama models with real-time web search infrastructure
- Critical AI talent, including Aravind Srinivas and his founding team
How a Perplexity AI Acquisition Could Reshape the AI Industry
If either Apple or Meta successfully acquires Perplexity AI, the implications for the broader AI industry would be profound.
Here’s a deep dive into how such an acquisition could reshape the sector.
Faster AI Industry Consolidation
A buyout by Apple or Meta would accelerate Big Tech’s trend of acquiring startups to stay ahead in AI, likely sparking more acquisitions across Silicon Valley.
Search Engine Disruption
If acquired, Perplexity could become a real threat to Google, either as Apple’s Safari search engine or as Meta’s new AI layer across its social apps.
Talent Wars Intensify
The move would highlight that top AI talent is often gained through acquisition, increasing pressure on startups to retain engineers and raise funds to stay independent.
Shift in AI Ecosystems
A Meta acquisition might keep Perplexity open and collaborative; Apple would likely integrate it into a closed, tightly controlled ecosystem, changing how accessible AI tools are.
Increased Regulatory Scrutiny
A deal of this scale would attract antitrust attention, possibly triggering tougher rules on AI mergers and how AI companies use data and content.
The Future of AI Is Up for Grabs
Whether or not Apple or Meta ultimately acquires Perplexity AI, one thing is clear: the next frontier of competition isn’t just about AI models, it’s about owning the user’s query.
Perplexity is already redefining what search looks and feels like in the AI age. And for Apple and Meta, that may be too valuable to ignore.
