Perplexity interested in buying TikTok amid U.S. concerns

AI startup Perplexity has shown interest in buying TikTok, the popular video-sharing app. TikTok is facing a deadline to sell itself from its Chinese owner, ByteDance, or risk being banned in the United States. In a blog post, Perplexity outlined how it could blend its AI-driven search technology with TikTok. The company believes that merging its capabilities with TikTok’s vast video collection would create an exceptional search experience. Perplexity also stated it can enhance TikTok's algorithm without creating a monopoly. Recently, former President Donald Trump mentioned that the U.S. was in talks with four groups interested in acquiring TikTok. TikTok must comply with a law that requires it to divest from ByteDance due to national security concerns. This law took effect in January, prompting worries about possible Chinese government influence over American users. During his presidency, Trump previously sought to ban TikTok over these security concerns. Although TikTok had to pause its services and was removed from app stores, it was reinstated after negotiations with Beijing. Other potential buyers include Frank McCourt's Project Liberty, Microsoft, and Oracle. Perplexity cautioned that any acquisition by large investors might allow ByteDance to retain control over TikTok’s algorithm, potentially leading to a monopoly. Perplexity proposed building new infrastructure for TikTok in the U.S. and creating an open-source recommendation feed. The startup also plans to help users verify information while watching videos, promoting a more transparent platform.