Perplexity AI, a company developing artificial intelligence technologies, has come up with a new proposal for a merger with TikTok, which includes the creation of a holding company NewCo, CNBC reported.
According to media reports, Perplexity AI has already sent new terms to both the Chinese company ByteDance, which owns TikTok, and potential investors. In addition to the creation of a new holding company, NewCo., the proposal aims to allow the US government to own a 50% stake in the platform.
Prplexity AI first announced its desire to acquire TikTok on January 19. The initial proposal would have allowed TikTok shareholders to keep their shares and given California-based Perplexity AI access to the service's videos. It is now assumed that TikTok shareholders will be able to receive shares in the new holding company.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he intends to make a decision on the fate of TikTok in the US within the next 30 days. The American leader also said that he is discussing the acquisition of TikTok with “very influential people“. According to Trump, keeping this social network for American users will benefit the US from an economic point of view.
Former US leader Joe Biden signed a law in 2024, according to which the Chinese corporation ByteDance had to sell TikTok or cease operations of the social network in the US by January 19 of this year. On that day, the application stopped working in the US, but then became available to American users again. This came after assurances from Trump, who announced that he would issue an executive order to delay the ban on TikTok in the country. On January 20, after taking office, he signed an executive order designed to delay the blocking of this platform in the United States for at least 75 days.