Apple executives are reportedly exploring the acquisition or partnership with the AI startup Perplexity, potentially to enhance their search capabilities or improve Siri. Key figures in these discussions are Adrian Perica, the head of mergers, and Eddy Cue.
Sources indicate that these internal talks are still in the preliminary stages, and no formal offers have been made as of yet. An alliance with Perplexity could involve integrating its technology into Safari, Apple’s web browser, or incorporating it into the long-awaited Siri improvements, which are now projected for a 2026 release.
A recent report suggested that this initiative aims to develop an AI-powered search engine to reduce reliance on Google, which currently pays Apple about $20 billion annually to remain the default search engine for iPhones and Macs. However, this lucrative arrangement faces challenges due to ongoing antitrust scrutiny.
Should a deal with Perplexity be finalized, it would mark the largest acquisition in Apple’s history, valued at around $14 billion—significantly surpassing Apple’s $3 billion purchase of Beats in 2014. This interest in Perplexity may not come as a surprise, especially given testimony from Cue during the Google antitrust trial, where he acknowledged discussions with the AI company.
He stated, “We’ve been pretty impressed with what Perplexity has done, so we’ve started some discussions with them about what they’re doing.” This potential collaboration aligns with Apple’s broader strategy of working with multiple AI partners to diversify their offerings.
Alongside Perplexity, other notable names like OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Anthropic have been mentioned in relation to Apple’s AI development efforts. By engaging various providers, Apple aims to enhance user options while also managing costs effectively.
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