Perplexity AI Wants To Buy TikTok and Their New Bid Involves the US Government, ByteDance

The United States' fight against TikTok has reached its climax, but the story is far from over, and this is because President Donald J. Trump's executive order only extended the ban's deadline, and is still attracting many buyers to step up to the plate. While no companies yet have hit the home run and successfully secured a deal with ByteDance, companies like Perplexity AI have made their massive bids for a piece of TikTok.

It may seem odd that Perplexity, an AI startup, is setting themselves up in the conversation as TikTok's next owner, but the company's latest bid looks to put them in a great position to join social media giants while involving the US government and ByteDance.

Perplexity AI Submits Revised Bid to Buy TikTok US

The Associated Press reported that Perplexity AI's interest in buying TikTok is still ongoing, with the renowned artificial intelligence startup submitting a revised proposal for this venture. The original proposal of the company centers on Perplexity, TikTok US, and equity investors joining together to create a new company that would head the social media platform's operations in the country.

With this original plan, Perplexity AI will no longer be an AI-focused company, but it will also double as a social media company with its top product being TikTok US, and it is looking similar to Elon Musk's X.

The TikTok sale in the United States is one of the top trending conversations this week as it was recently reported that Oracle and the White House are already negotiating a deal, but Trump later dispelled the rumors claiming that their talks with others are still ongoing.

Perplexity's Bid Includes US Gov't, ByteDance

That being said, Perplexity's latest deal heavily involves the United States government to be part of TikTok's future owners, particularly as Perplexity would focus on an initial public offering of at least $300 million, and then the government would receive its stake. Perplexity's proposal offers as much as 50 percent ownership of TikTok that would be under a new entity, with ByteDance retaining the other half.

TikTok's US Buyers: Who's Interested?

Back when Trump's first term was nearing its end, the conversation behind TikTok's US operations being sold to an American company was a heated topic, many were interested in purchasing the company, including Microsoft. However, as Trump is set to begin his second term four years later, TikTok's sale is yet again the hottest topic, with Elon Musk one of the honorable mentions by ByteDance to be its next owner.

On the other hand, another renowned personality has unveiled to the world that he is interested in acquiring Chinese social media operations in the country, and it is none other than the most subscribed YouTuber, MrBeast. Later on, it was revealed that MrBeast is not going at this venture alone as he is partnering with Jesse Tinsley and Employer.com to purchase TikTok.

The conversation of TikTok's sale has sparked yet another bidding war on the platform as the likes of Oracle and Larry Ellison; Kevin O'Leary, the renowned "Shark Tank" star; Steven Munchin, and more have submitted their proposal. Part of this conversation is one of the most unlikely names on the list, with Perplexity AI making a massive bid against competitors, with their proposal involving both ByteDance, the US government, and several equity investors as TikTok's possible owners.