Apple(US:AAPL) 财富FORTUNE·2025-07-14 11:56Core Viewpoint - Apple is falling behind in the artificial intelligence race and acquiring the AI startup Perplexity is seen as the only way to catch up [1][4]. Group 1: Current Situation - Analysts indicate that Apple's internal culture focuses on creating excellent products, but the company is struggling to develop AI technology independently [1][3]. - Competitors are rapidly surpassing Apple in the AI sector, with Meta actively recruiting top AI talent from Apple [2][3]. Group 2: Analyst Insights - Dan Ives from Wedbush Securities expressed that Apple is like a bystander watching the fourth industrial revolution pass by at high speed [3]. - Ives previously held a more optimistic view on Apple's AI prospects but has shifted to a more worried tone, noting that Apple's opportunity window is narrowing [3][4]. Group 3: Acquisition Considerations - Ives believes Apple must acquire Perplexity, even if it means paying double its current valuation of approximately $14 billion, to avoid falling further behind [5][4]. - Concerns about privacy arise with the potential acquisition, as Apple has a history of prioritizing user privacy in its products [5][6]. Group 4: Potential Benefits - Ives suggests that acquiring Perplexity could significantly enhance Siri's performance, making it a more competitive AI product [7]. - The combination of Apple and Perplexity could lead to a transformative change in the AI field, potentially allowing Apple to compete with ChatGPT [7].