Tech giant weighs acquisition or partnership to reduce Google dependence amid antitrust scrutiny
Apple is in advanced internal discussions to acquire or partner with Perplexity, an AI startup led by Indian-origin CEO, as it looks to strengthen its artificial intelligence arsenal and reduce reliance on Google as its default search engine provider, reported zeenews.india.com.
Adrian Perica, Apple’s head of mergers and acquisitions, has reportedly consulted with senior executives including services chief Eddy Cue and AI leaders about potentially acquiring Perplexity. This move aligns with Apple’s strategy to pivot away from its $20 billion annual deal with Google — a partnership now under the microscope of U.S. antitrust regulators.
Apple may integrate Perplexity’s AI-powered search into Safari or Siri, shaking up its $20B-a-year deal with Google
The Cupertino-based tech giant is said to be considering both a full acquisition and a strategic partnership. If successful, Perplexity’s AI search could be embedded into Apple services like Safari or Siri, enhancing the company’s search capabilities and potentially replacing Google in key functions.
Earlier this year, Meta attempted but failed to acquire Perplexity, and later redirected its efforts with a $14.3 billion investment into Scale AI — underlining how hot the competition has become among tech giants for cutting-edge AI technology and talent.
However, Apple may not be alone in chasing Perplexity. Samsung, its main rival in the smartphone market, is reportedly close to sealing a significant partnership with the AI firm. This could complicate Apple’s efforts to lock in a deal, given Samsung’s aggressive expansion into AI-driven devices and ecosystems.
Despite the mounting interest, Perplexity has publicly downplayed acquisition rumors, saying it’s natural for leading device makers to explore best-in-class AI search experiences, while denying any current merger talks.
As Apple races to catch up in generative AI, the company is ramping up its recruitment and deal-making activity. The outcome of the ongoing antitrust case against Google may be a key trigger for whether Apple moves forward with acquiring or partnering with Perplexity — a move that could permanently reshape the tech search landscape.
