Perplexity AI, a relatively new name in the tech industry, is quickly becoming the center of attention among major tech giants. With a unique search engine that combines conversational AI and traditional search results, the platform is steadily gaining popularity. Currently boasting around 15 million monthly users and growing at 20% month-over-month, its potential has piqued the interest of companies like Apple and Meta.
How Perplexity Stands Out from the Crowd
Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity allows users to interact through a chat-like interface, powered by multiple large language models such as Gemini and Sonar. This gives users the flexibility to choose models based on accuracy or preference. Its quick responses, simplified summaries, and user-friendly interface provide an experience that’s distinctly different from the dominance of Google.
Apple’s Urgent Need for AI Innovation
Apple has been relatively slow in rolling out robust AI solutions. While Siri once led the voice assistant revolution, it has since lagged in innovation. Now, with AI becoming central to tech development, Apple is looking for ways to catch up. Talks led by executives like Adrian Perica and Eddy Cue suggest Apple is either considering acquiring or partnering with Perplexity. If successful, Apple could integrate Perplexity’s technology into Safari or even upgrade Siri’s intelligence. An acquisition of this scale, rumored to be around $14 billion, would be one of Apple’s most significant moves in the AI space.
Meta’s Ongoing AI Pursuits
Meta has also shown interest in acquiring Perplexity but has since shifted focus toward investing heavily in Scale AI. This does not diminish its interest in AI-powered search but shows the variety of approaches being taken by tech leaders to dominate the AI landscape. The fact that both Apple and Meta have held acquisition talks with Perplexity highlights the startup’s strategic value.
What’s at Stake in the AI Search War
The traditional search model is evolving. Users now prefer AI-generated, context-aware answers over simple link-based results. For Apple, acquiring Perplexity could also help reduce dependency on Google’s search partnership, which has drawn regulatory scrutiny in recent years. Moreover, acquiring Perplexity would bring in a team of top-tier AI engineers, adding a valuable asset to any tech company’s plans.
The growing interest in Perplexity AI signals a larger shift in how the future of search technology is being shaped. For Apple, it could mean redefining its approach to AI integration. For Meta, it reinforces the urgency to stay competitive in the evolving AI race. In either case, Perplexity’s rising influence marks a turning point in the AI-powered search revolution.
