Apple Reportedly Mulling Perplexity Purchase to Bolster AI Offerings

Core Viewpoint - Apple is reportedly considering the acquisition of AI startup Perplexity AI to enhance its AI technology and expertise, particularly in the context of potentially losing its long-standing search deal with Google [2][3]. Group 1: Acquisition Talks - Apple has held in-house discussions regarding the acquisition of Perplexity AI, with key figures such as Adrian Perica and Eddy Cue involved in the talks [2]. - The discussions are in early stages and may not lead to a formal offer [2][4]. Group 2: Strategic Implications - Acquiring Perplexity AI could enable Apple to develop an AI-based search engine, which is crucial as it faces the risk of losing its default search arrangement with Google [3]. - Perplexity AI currently processes 780 million queries monthly, with a growth rate exceeding 20% month over month [3]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - Apple's approach to AI has been described as "restrained" compared to competitors like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, which are aggressively pursuing large language models and enterprise-scale AI solutions [5]. - The company risks falling behind in the broader AI economy, as most enterprise AI innovation is occurring in the cloud, which Apple has not fully embraced [6][7].