Apple Inc. executives have held internal discussions about potentially acquiring Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup currently valued at approximately $14 billion. These talks, led by Adrian Perica, Apple's head of mergers and acquisitions, and involving senior leaders such as Eddy Cue, are aimed at bolstering Apple's AI talent and technology capabilities. The potential acquisition is seen as a strategic move to enhance Apple's AI offerings, including improving Siri and integrating advanced AI search technology, potentially reducing the company's reliance on Google amid antitrust concerns affecting their existing search agreement. While no formal offer has been made and discussions remain internal, Apple has also considered a possible partnership with Perplexity. The acquisition, if pursued, would mark Apple's largest-ever deal, surpassing its previous maximum of $3 billion for mergers and acquisitions. The interest in Perplexity AI is part of a broader competitive landscape, with other major tech companies like Meta also evaluating the startup for acquisition to strengthen their AI portfolios.