The imperative to adopt AI for competitiveness
Asking an Artificial Intelligence (AI) tool whether it likes gossip would be misguided. These systems do not associate themselves with such behaviour, instead prioritising verified facts over speculation. However, certain industry reports are simply too intriguing to ignore. One such unconfirmed report currently circulating suggests that Apple is allegedly in talks to take a step toward securing its future in the AI era: by acquiring Perplexity, valued at $14 billion. Whether this turns out to be true or not, this possibility illustrates how strategic acquisitions in AI, especially in the field of intelligent search assistants, can shape the future of digital ecosystems and intelligent search solutions.
Assessing Perplexity through the lens of Digital Due Diligence (DDD) can give a picture of its digital footprint and help determine whether the company’s technical foundation, scalability, and innovation pipeline justify the reported valuation.
Perplexity has gained rising prominence and widespread adoption as an AI-powered search assistant platform on a global scale. It generated an estimated $100 million in annual recurring revenue by March 2025, driven primarily by premium subscriptions and advertising. This milestone reflects an exceptionally rapid growth trajectory over roughly 20 months starting from late 2023, a period marking accelerated monetisation and expansion following the early establishment of its premium subscription service, Perplexity Pro, as confirmed by industry reports and statements from company leadership.
Its success highlights the growing demand for intuitive and conversational search experiences that go beyond traditional engines. For companies aspiring to lead in the evolving search assistant market, adapting to this shift in user expectations will likely be a key focus.




