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With a TikTok ban looming in the United States, Perplexity AI is the latest contender hoping to give the video app a new corporate home.
First, CNBC reported Perplexity’s interest. A source with knowledge of the proposal confirmed to TechCrunch that Perplexity (CEO Aravind Srinivas is pictured above) has submitted an offer to merge with TikTok US.
The source also confirmed other details about the proposal — it will create a new entity combining Perplexity, TikTok and new equity partners; Most investors in TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, will be able to keep their equity; and combined, Perplexity hopes to bring more videos to the AI search engine.
The law, which requires ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a US ban, will go into effect on Sunday, January 19. It will be President Joe Biden’s last day in office, and his administration officials said will leave the actual implementation of the ban “To the next Administration.”
Meanwhile, President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated on Monday, said he would do the same “Most likely” gives TikTok a 90-day extensionand CEO of TikTok He released a video thanking Trump for his efforts.
However, TikTok said that without more explicit assurances that it would not be enforced by the Biden administration, “will be forced to go dark” on sunday.
Despite several buyers showing interest in TikTok, ByteDance has repeatedly said it has no intention of selling. (The company described a report The Chinese government is open to being bought by Elon Musk as “pure fiction.”) CNBC reports that Perplexity hopes to overcome those reservations by proposing a merger instead of a sale.
TechCrunch has reached out to TikTok and Perplexity AI for comment.
