Perplexity AI bids to merge with TikTok US amid looming ban, source says [View all]
Source: USA Today
Published 5:00 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2025 | Updated 6:26 p.m. ET Jan. 18, 2025
U.S. search engine startup Perplexity AI submitted a bid on Saturday to TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance for Perplexity to merge with TikTok U.S., a source familiar with the company's plans told Reuters.
TikTok faces a U.S. ban starting on Sunday if it does not cut ties with ByteDance, although President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he would likely give the short-video social-media platform a 90-day reprieve on Monday.
CNBC first reported the offer.
Perplexity would merge with TikTok U.S. and create a new entity by combining the merged company with other partners, the person said. The new structure proposed by Perplexity would allow for most of ByteDance’s existing investors to retain their equity stakes and would bring more video to Perplexity, the source said, requesting anonymity because the matter is confidential. TikTok did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2025/01/18/tiktok-ban-perplexity-ai-potential-merger/77809771007/
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