Apple is reportedly evaluating the acquisition of Perplexity, according to sources. The talks were reported by Bloomberg, but it seems they are still in an initial phase, so this information should be taken with caution. Currently, the company’s M&A head Adrian Perica and Eddy Cue are involved, and if the deal goes through, it could be a particularly fruitful acquisition for Apple.
It is worth noting that the Cupertino company has been facing a series of challenges in developing and integrating AI-based solutions.
Shift in Strategy
As mentioned earlier, there are no confirmations at the moment. The negotiations are still in the early stages, and there’s no guarantee they will come to fruition. Perplexity is currently valued at 14 billion dollars, making it one of Apple’s largest potential acquisitions, and the deal could prove particularly advantageous given the current slowdowns in AI development.
It’s also important to note that Perplexity is reevaluating its deal with Google following the antitrust trial, while Meta reportedly attempted an offer in vain. In the meantime, Meta has invested 14.3 billion dollars to acquire Scale AI.
Apple’s Struggles with AI Development
Despite the various features introduced with Apple Intelligence, the Cupertino company is still facing several difficulties and delays. The promises of a new AI-powered Siri have unfortunately not been met, and it will take more time before Apple can release a truly high-quality and reliable product.
Craig Federighi stated: “We wanted it to be really, really reliable. And we weren’t able to achieve the reliability in the time we thought.”
Moreover, last February, a Bloomberg journalist revealed that Apple is encountering significant challenges in completing the development of some features. The new Siri was supposed to be similar to ChatGPT, enabling users to have genuine conversations, making it more useful and personalized.
