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Apple internally discussed buying Mistral, Perplexity, the Information reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on August 26, 2025

1 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

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Apple internally discussed buying Mistral, Perplexity, the Information reports
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(Reuters) -Apple has held talks internally about acquiring French AI startup Mistral as well as Perplexity, the Information reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter. Apple has

Apple Considers Acquiring AI Startups Mistral and Perplexity

(Reuters) -Apple has held talks internally about acquiring French AI startup Mistral as well as Perplexity, the Information reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Apple has trailed rivals such as Google and Samsung in terms of roll-out of AI features in its devices.

CEO Tim Cook signaled last month that Apple was open to larger AI-related acquisitions to accelerate its roadmap, a shift from its historically conservative M&A posture.

Reuters could not immediately verify the report. Apple, Mistral and Perplexity did not immediately respond to Reuters' requests for comment.

Nvidia-backed Mistral was valued at more than $6 billion after its Series B funding round last year and the Financial Times reported this month that the French company was in talks to raise $1 billion at a valuation of $10 billion.

Executives at the iPhone maker have held internal talks about potentially bidding for Nvidia and Jeff Bezos-backed Perplexity, Bloomberg News reported earlier this year.

(Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Leroy Leo)

Key Takeaways

  • Apple is considering acquiring AI startups Mistral and Perplexity.
  • The move signals a shift in Apple's M&A strategy towards AI.
  • Mistral is valued at over $6 billion, with plans to raise more.
  • Apple aims to enhance its AI features to compete with rivals.
  • The report is based on insider information, not yet verified.

Frequently Asked Questions

What AI startups is Apple considering acquiring?
Apple is internally discussing the acquisition of French AI startup Mistral and Perplexity.
Why is Apple considering these acquisitions?
Apple aims to accelerate its AI roadmap and catch up with competitors like Google and Samsung.
What is the valuation of Mistral?
Mistral was valued at over $6 billion following its Series B funding round last year.
What has Tim Cook indicated about Apple's approach to AI?
Tim Cook has signaled that Apple is open to larger AI-related acquisitions, marking a shift from its historically conservative stance.
Did Apple respond to the reports about the acquisitions?
Apple, Mistral, and Perplexity did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the acquisition discussions.

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