Apple's potential tie-up with Perplexity seen as defensive move amid Google antitrust case – Jefferies

  • A potential deal between Apple Inc and AI startup Perplexity would mark a strategic shift for the iPhone maker, but analysts at Jefferies said the benefits are unclear and the move could be interpreted as a defensive response to rising regulatory pressure on its long-standing relationship with Google. Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL, ETR:APC) is reportedly weighing either a partnership or full acquisition of Perplexity AI, a search engine startup recently valued at $14 billion.