Siri Special #2: The Perplexity Acquisition and External AI Integration

Apple Faces Siri’s Limits—and Looks Outside for Answers

There’s been a steady stream of reports suggesting Apple recognizes the limitations of Siri and is actively seeking partnerships with cutting-edge AI technologies. The two most prominent examples are the rumored acquisition of Perplexity and the integration of ChatGPT or Claude. Does this mean Apple is ready to move beyond Siri as we know it?

What is Perplexity, and Why Is Apple Interested?

Perplexity is one of the hottest AI startups right now, founded by engineers from Google, OpenAI, and Meta. The company aims to set a new standard for “AI-powered search.” When users ask questions, Perplexity responds instantly, summarizing and explaining answers clearly—and citing sources transparently. This user-centric approach has won widespread praise.

According to Bloomberg and other major outlets, Apple began internal discussions about acquiring Perplexity in late 2024. The motivation is clear: Siri is still stuck at “I’ll search the web for that,” while Perplexity’s tech could enable Siri to not only find information more intelligently, but also explain context in natural language like a true AI assistant.

Reference: [Bloomberg article]

Beyond the Rumor: What’s Really Happening?

The rumors about Apple acquiring Perplexity aren’t just idle speculation—they’re reportedly the result of serious, strategic consideration inside Apple. The company is acutely aware that, with its current data and infrastructure, Siri can’t keep up with AI like ChatGPT. By bringing in a company that blends “knowledge search” with conversational AI, Apple could give Siri a much-needed upgrade.

That said, there’s no official confirmation of a signed deal yet. Even Bloomberg and other reliable sources emphasize these talks are still under review. What’s clear is that Apple is now more aggressive than ever about securing best-in-class AI tech from outside.

How Real Are the ChatGPT and Claude Integration Rumors?

Alongside the Perplexity rumors, there have been persistent reports that Apple is working with external AI providers like OpenAI (the creator of ChatGPT) and Anthropic (creator of Claude). In reality, Apple engineers are already testing both OpenAI and Anthropic models inside Siri. With ChatGPT now partially available on iOS, the integration is quickly becoming less of a rumor and more of a fact.

Reference: [WIRED article]

There’s also word that Apple is negotiating to make Anthropic’s Claude a core “brain” of Siri. The main holdup is reportedly the massive licensing fees and contract details—so nothing is finalized yet.

Why Is Apple Making This Big Shift to External AI?

Given Apple’s history of building everything in-house—including every aspect of Siri—this sudden openness to outside AI is extraordinary. Why now?

First, Apple has realized that “on-device” processing alone can’t close the gap with the latest AI advancements. Second, market and user expectations for digital assistants have exploded in recent years. As AI helpers become central to daily life, Apple can’t afford to lag behind.

Still, Apple insists it will maintain its strong privacy stance—even as it integrates outside AI. For example, when using ChatGPT through Siri, Apple says all requests are routed through Apple servers, stripping out personally identifiable information like IP addresses, and ensuring no user chat logs are stored by OpenAI.

So, What Changes Will Consumers Actually See?

The most direct impact is that Siri will get much, much smarter. Instead of simply searching the web, Siri will soon be able to engage in more natural conversations, summarize information, and understand context—just like ChatGPT. iPhone and iPad users will be able to experience state-of-the-art AI features more easily and securely.

However, these features will likely roll out first on newer devices, with limited functionality or speed on older models. In the long run, Apple appears poised to adopt a “hybrid strategy,” combining its own AI advancements with external partners as needed.

Both the Perplexity acquisition rumors and the external AI integration stories are a sign that Apple recognizes Siri’s current limits and is taking practical steps toward true innovation. For consumers, it means the next era of Apple’s “intelligent assistant” is just around the corner—and Siri is about to get a lot smarter.