Search engine startup Perplexity AI has updated its merger proposal to TikTok's parent company, ByteDance, aiming to combine Perplexity with TikTok’s U.S. operations, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Sunday.
The revised proposal outlines the creation of a new U.S. holding company, "NewCo," which would manage the merged entities. Under the plan, ByteDance would sell TikTok U.S. to investors, granting TikTok’s existing stakeholders equity in NewCo.
The U.S. government would hold up to a 50% stake in the new company after a future initial public offering (IPO) with a minimum valuation of $300 billion, the source said. ByteDance would retain TikTok's core recommendation algorithm.
Perplexity AI also offered to be acquired by the new entity, provided its investors receive equity distributions in NewCo. CNBC first reported details of the merger proposal.
TikTok services in the U.S. were restored last week after President Donald Trump, following his return to power, lifted the ban on the app, which was previously blocked under national security concerns. ByteDance and the White House have yet to respond to Reuters' requests for comment.
President Trump stated on Saturday that he is engaging with multiple parties over the future of TikTok and expects a decision within 30 days. Earlier this month, Reuters reported that Perplexity AI had submitted an initial bid to ByteDance proposing a merger rather than a direct sale, which the company believes could increase the likelihood of the deal’s success.
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The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned key elements of President Donald Trump’s global tariff policy, creating uncertainty ahead of his March meeting with China’s Xi Jinping. The ruling raises fresh questions about the future of U.S.-China trade relations and the stability of the global economy.
The chief executive of Google DeepMind, Demis Hassabis, has called for more urgent research into the risks posed by artificial intelligence, warning that stronger safeguards are needed as systems become more advanced.
Artificial intelligence chatbots could soon face the same legal restriction as social media platforms under plans outlined by the UK government to tighten online safety laws, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned technology firms they will be held accountable for illegal AI-generated content.
Alphabet is emerging as a frontrunner in the global artificial intelligence race, as analysts and executives say Google has overtaken OpenAI, marking a sharp reversal from a year ago when the company was widely seen as lagging.
The U.S. military confirmed on Friday (13 March) that all six service members aboard a plane that crashed in western Iraq on Thursday had died, as conflict in the Middle East continues.
The U.S. should shut down its military bases in the Middle East, Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday (12 March). His words were read out by a broadcaster on state Iranian television.
“Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel," a spokesman for the Iranian Army warned the world on Wednesday (11 March), as attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz escalated. Meanwhile, 32 countries agreed to the largest ever release of oil reserves in an attempt to reduce prices.
Norwegian police apprehended three brothers suspected of carrying out Sunday's (8 March) bombing at the U.S. embassy in Oslo, in an attack investigators have branded an act of terrorism.
President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, visited Azerbaijan on Wednesday. A meeting between Costa and President Ilham Aliyev was held to reaffirm the European Union’s support amid regional security concerns, particularly following recent Iranian attacks on Nakhchivan Airport.
NATO air defence systems intercepted a third Iranian ballistic missile over Türkiye early on Friday morning. The incident occurred at approximately 03:30 local time over the southern province of Adana.
The European Commission will instruct governments to be flexible in enforcing EU rules on gas imports, diplomats told Reuters on Thursday (12 March), a move likely to benefit imports from Azerbaijan.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 13rd of March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ayman Ghazali, a 41-year-old U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, crashed his truck into the hallway of a Detroit-area synagogue on Thursday (12 March) while children attended preschool. Security personnel shot him dead during the confrontation, and authorities said no one else was seriously injured.
Balendra Shah is set to become Nepal's prime minister after winning a landslide in the country's 2026 elections. The election comes after a GenZ-led protest in which dozens died in September last year, helped to overthrow the government
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