TMTPOST -- Perplexity   AI is   reported to be tech giants ’   target, highlighting   potential of   the artificial intelligence ( AI ) -powered web search engine.

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Apple Inc.'s head of mergers and acquisitions, Adrian Perica, services SVP Eddy Cue and the company's other   executives have been   in early   stage talks   about   possible acquisition of   Perplexity,   Bloomberg   reported. Apple   has   not   yet made   a   formal   bid, but its   top executives   have met with Perplexity several times over the past few months,   according to the report.

Apple executives   have reportedly   considered   multiple scenarios   involving Perplexity. Besides   a full acquisition,   which would allow   Apple   to integrate   Perplexity ’ s AI tech directly into Siri   or a braoder Apple-run   search platform, another   option   is a   partnership   that would enable   Apple ’ s   integration   of Perplexity tech   into   iPhone operating system   iOS   to power a   native AI   search experience. The ultimate   goal is to   make Siri   smarter as   Apple is delaying the AI features   that   would supercharge the voice assistant, and set the release   target   of spring   2026   at the Worldwide Developers Conference ( WWDC )   earlier this month.

Acquiring Perplexity could be a strategic fallback   for Apple if U.S.   regulators   require   the company to terminate   its   partnership with Google, which keeps Chrome the default   search engine on iOS. A U.S.   judge   in August 2024 ruled Google had violated   federal   antitrust law   in order to   make   sure Google ’ s online search dominance.  

A   separate Bloomberg report said Meta   Platforms, Inc.   used to   mull   takeover of Perplexity   as well. Meta   earlier this year   was   reported to try to scoop   up Perplexity before investment into   data-labeling startup   Scale AI.   Meta   approached   Perplexity   about a potential takeover bid   before   moving ahead withScale AI,   CNBC   echoed the report   on   Friday.   Meta and Perplextiy   didn ’ t finalize   a deal, per CNBC ’ s sources. One of   the sources said to dissolve the discussion   was the   two   sides ’   mutually decision, while another said   Perplexity walked away from a potential deal.  

The reported talks   with Perplexity was one of   the latest efforts   of Meta ’ s AI push. Scale   AI on June 13 confirmed recent news that Meta is   going to   invest   $14.3 billion into   the   startup and take a 49% stake in   it, without   any   voting   power.   The investment is one of Meta ’ s largest-ever outside investments as well as one of its most aggressive   bets on AI.   Scale AI founder   Alexander Wang said in a   post on X   taht he ’ s   resigning as CEO and joining   Meta   along with a small   number of   Scale AI   employees.

Meta   on June 13   confirmed   it has finalized its   strategic   partnership and investment in Scale AI.   "As part of this, we will deepen the work we do together producing data for AI models and Alexandr Wang will join Meta to work on our superintelligence efforts," said   a Meta   spokesperson. "We will share more about this effort and the great people joining this team in the coming weeks."

Previous reports   suggested   Meta CEO   Mark   Zuckerberg   was so frustrated with the Facebook   parent ’ s standing in   AI   that he ’ s willing to   spending billions of dollars   to   convince   Scale AI   founder Wang to join his company.

Zuckerberg is creating   a new AI research lab   dedicated to pursuing "superintelligence",   a hypothetical A.I. system that exceeds the powers of the human brain,   and   has tapped Scale   AI CEO Wang to join the new lab, the New York Times reported on June 10.   It was   reported that Meta has offered compensation packages between seven and nine figures to AI researchers from top competitors, some of whom have accepted.   Bloomberg the same day reported   Zuckberg   is hiring a   team   of top AI talents   for Meta ’ s "superintelligence"    lab.   Zuckerberg has been personally leading recruiting for the team of about 50 people — and has even rearranged Meta's offices so the new hires sit near him, per the report.