Meta approached Perplexity before massive Scale AI deal

Meta approach artificial intelligence Startup Perplexity IA on a potential takeover offer before finally investing $ 14.3 billion LadderCNBC confirmed on Friday.

The two companies have not finalized an agreement, according to two people familiar with the question which asked not to be appointed due to the confidential nature of the negotiations.

A person familiar with talks said that they were “mutually dissolved”, while another person familiar with the case said that perplexity has moved away from a potential agreement.

Bloomberg Previously, talks between meta and perplexity. Perplexity refused to comment. Meta did not immediately respond to the request for CNBC comments.

The attempt to buy perplexity is the last example of Mark Zuckerbergan aggressive thrust to strengthen IA efforts in the middle of fierce competition from Openai and Google Parent Alphabet. Zuckerberg has become agitated that rivals like Openai seem to be ahead of underlying AI models and consumer-oriented applications, and it will take place extremely to hire the best AI talents, as CNBC previously reported.

Meta now has a 49% stake in Ladder After its investment of several billion dollars, although the social media company has no voting power. IA founder scale Alexandr WangAs well as a small number of other employees on a scale, will join Meta as part of the agreement.

Earlier this year, Meta also tried to acquire a sure superintelligence, which was would have Valued at $ 32 billion during a fundraising round in April, as CNBC reported on Thursday.

Daniel Gross, CEO of SAFE Superintelligence, and the former CEO of Github, Nat Friedman, join the efforts of Meta AI, where they will work on products under Wang. Gross directs a venture capital company with Friedman called NfdgTheir initials combined and Meta will obtain participation in the company.

Openai CEO Sam Altman said on the last episode of “Non -ceiling“Podcast, who is organized by his brother, that Meta had tried to poach OPENAI employees by offering signature bonuses up to $ 100 million with even larger annual remuneration packages.

“I heard that Meta considers that we are their biggest competitor,” said Altman on the podcast. “Their current AI efforts did not work as well as they hoped and I respect aggressiveness and that I continue to try new things.”

– Kate Rooney of the CNBC contributed to this report

WATCH: Meta tried to buy the perplexity before the AI ​​scale of the agreement