Perplexity expresses interest in purchasing TikTok

Artificial intelligence startup Perplexity announced its interest in buying TikTok on March 21. The move comes as TikTok faces a U.S. law requiring it to separate from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or risk a ban in the country. Perplexity shared its vision for combining its AI search technology with TikTok’s video platform. They believe this merger could create an improved search experience, leveraging TikTok's vast video library. This announcement follows comments made by former President Donald Trump, who mentioned that the U.S. was in discussions with four potential buyers for TikTok. He expressed confidence in the interest from multiple parties without revealing their identities. Concerns over national security have driven U.S. lawmakers to enforce regulations on TikTok. The law, effective since January, is rooted in fears that the Chinese government might use the app to surveil American users or sway public opinion. During previous administration efforts, TikTok faced temporary shutdowns in the U.S. and was removed from app stores, frustrating many users. However, it resumed operations after talks with Beijing. Other potential buyers for TikTok include a consortium called "The People’s Bid for TikTok," led by businessman Frank McCourt, alongside tech giants Microsoft and Oracle. Internet star MrBeast, also known as Jimmy Donaldson, is part of one bidding group. Perplexity argues that any takeover involving multiple investors could keep ByteDance in control. They propose building U.S.-based data centers for TikTok and aim to revamp its algorithm to be transparent and user-friendly. Additionally, they want to help users verify the accuracy of content as they engage with videos.