(Reuters) – Perplexity AI requested TikTok’s Chinese language dad or mum firm, ByteDance, on Saturday to permit the U.S. search engine startup to merge with TikTok U.S. and create a brand new entity combining them and New Capital Companions (WA:), CNBC reported.
TikTok faces a U.S. ban beginning on Sunday if it doesn’t minimize ties with ByteDance, though President-elect Donald Trump mentioned on Saturday he would seemingly give the short-video social-media platform a 90-day reprieve on Monday.
The brand new construction proposed by Perplexity would enable for many of ByteDance’s current traders to retain their fairness stakes and would carry extra video to Perplexity, the report mentioned, citing an unnamed supply accustomed to the state of affairs.
Perplexity AI and TikTok didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark. New Capital Companions couldn’t be instantly reached.
Perplexity AI believes its bid might succeed for the reason that proposal is a merger relatively than a sale, the report added.
Perplexity AI’s search instruments allow customers to get quick solutions to questions, with sources and citations. It’s powered by massive language fashions that may sum up and generate data, from OpenAI to Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:)’ open-source mannequin Llama.
TikTok, which has captivated practically half of all Individuals, powered small companies and formed on-line tradition, mentioned on Friday it is going to go darkish within the U.S. on Sunday except President Joe Biden’s administration offers assurances to firms reminiscent of Apple (NASDAQ:) and Google (NASDAQ:) that they won’t face enforcement actions when a ban takes impact.
