Apple has held internal talks about buying AI startup Perplexity AI, Bloomberg reports. The deal would boost Apple’s AI tech as it braces for the possible end of its longstanding Google search default on Apple devices.
Sources say Adrian Perica, Apple’s head of mergers and acquisitions, discussed the idea with services chief Eddy Cue and other AI leads. Talks are early and could fall through.
Perplexity AI runs a search engine that delivers real-time answers using current web data. The startup handles 780 million queries monthly, growing over 20% each month. 
The acquisition would let Apple build an AI-powered search engine to replace Google if the antitrust trial ends its current deal.
Perplexity told Bloomberg:
"We have no knowledge of any current or future M&A discussions involving Perplexity.”
Apple has yet to comment.
The move contrasts with rivals like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, who aggressively deploy large language models and AI in cloud and enterprise tools. Apple’s AI plays remain narrower—think voicemail transcripts, call screening, and enhanced Spotlight search.
PYMNTS suggested Apple risks “strategic drift” by staying out of the broader AI cloud race, relying instead on hardware cycles and developer support that might wane.
No word yet if Apple will push forward after the Google trial ruling.
