Perplexity AI makes bid to merge with TikTok US amidst ban threat

TikTok faces a U.S. ban starting on Sunday if it does not cut ties with ByteDance, although President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he would likely give the short-video social-media platform a 90-day reprieve on Monday Perplexity logo is seen in this illustration taken May 20, 2024. File image/ Reuters U.S. search engine startup Perplexity AI submitted a bid on Saturday to TikTok’s Chinese parent ByteDance for Perplexity to merge with TikTok U.S., a source familiar with the company’s plans told Reuters. TikTok faces a U.S. ban starting on Sunday if it does not cut ties with ByteDance, although President-elect Donald Trump said on Saturday he would likely give the short-video social-media platform a 90-day reprieve on Monday. Perplexity would merge with TikTok U.S. and create a new entity by combining the merged company with New Capital Partners, the person said.