Apple executives have held internal discussions about acquiring AI-startup Perplexity.
The talks are still at an early stage.
Apple also held talks with Mira Murati, the former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, to discuss a deal for her new AI startup.
Apple is exploring new opportunities in artificial intelligence (AI), and one of its top options is a possible deal with AI startup Perplexity. Apple executives have held internal discussions about acquiring the fast-growing AI company, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
SurveyThe talks are still at an early stage, and Apple hasn’t made any official offer to Perplexity yet. Adrian Perica, Apple’s head of mergers and acquisitions, has reportedly discussed the idea with services chief Eddy Cue and other senior AI leaders at the company.
Also read: OpenAI removes mentions of Jony Ive’s io after trademark suit, says deal still on
Perplexity has currently been gaining attention in the AI space. If Apple moves forward with the deal, it could help the tech giant build its own AI-powered search engine. Cue earlier publicly showed his interest in Perplexity. “We’ve been pretty impressed with what Perplexity has done, so we’ve started some discussions with them about what they’re doing,” Cue said in his testimony at the Google antitrust trial earlier this year.
Apple isn’t the only company interested in Perplexity. Earlier this year, Meta (the parent company of Facebook and Instagram) also reportedly tried to buy the startup.
Also read: Meta wanted to buy OpenAI co-founder’s startup but settled for hiring its CEO: Report
Alongside Perplexity, Apple has also shown interest in other AI startups. According to Gurman, Apple held talks with Mira Murati, the former Chief Technology Officer of OpenAI, earlier this year to discuss a deal for her new AI venture called Thinking Machines Lab.
These potential deals show that the tech giant is getting serious about strengthening its AI technology and talent, as it faces more competition in the AI race from companies like Microsoft, Google and Meta. With iPhones and other Apple devices expected to include more AI features in the future, partnering with or buying more AI startups could help Apple stay ahead.
Also read: Microsoft eyes more job cuts as it shifts focus to AI and data centers
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Ayushi Jain
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