Meta discussed buying AI search startup Perplexity AI before choosing a multibillion-dollar deal with Scale AI, sources say.
The talks came ahead of Meta’s big cash injection into Scale AI, which powers data labeling for machine learning models.
Perplexity AI is a rising player in the AI search space, but Meta passed on acquisition for a deeper Scale AI partnership.
The move shows Meta doubling down on AI infrastructure via Scale instead of snapping up smaller AI startups.
Meta did not comment on the discussions or deal.
