Earlier this year, as TikTok’s ban loomed, Perplexity AI threw its hat into an increasingly crowded ring to take over the struggling social media company. Now, the AI search engine developer is outlining its vision for TikTok if its bid wins.
In a blog post, the company made a lengthy statement about “rebuilding TikTok in America,” in which the AI company would overhaul the app’s algorithm, add Community Notes, and integrate short videos into its search engine.
It is unclear from the many potential buyers how seriously Perplexity’s offer is being considered. On Friday, the Financial Times reported that ByteDance’s existing U.S. investors are “exploring a deal with software giant Oracle” in an effort to “appease” President Donald Trump. The article also notes that ByteDance “strongly favors” the deal.
However, Perplexity insists that it is the best fit to own the platform.
“Perplexity is uniquely positioned to rebuild TikTok’s algorithm without creating a monopoly, combining world-class technical capabilities with Little Tech’s technological independence. Any acquisition by a consortium of investors could effectively keep ByteDance in control of the algorithm, while any acquisition by a competitor would likely create a monopoly in the short-form video and information space. All of society benefits when content channels are freed from the manipulation of foreign governments and globalist monopolies.”
The AI company also claims that it will rebuild TikTok’s black box recommendation algorithm from scratch and make the “For You” feed open source. Perplexity also suggests that it will add “community note features” as well as citations used by its own search engine to “turn TikTok into the most neutral and trusted platform in the world.” This would be a significant departure from TikTok’s current fact-checking program, which relies on international media organizations.
This is the first time Perplexity has publicly discussed its vision for TikTok in detail. It is also noteworthy that some of his plans – such as open access to the “For You” feed and the addition of community notes – seem to be ripped straight from Elon Musk’s script for X. In any case, the White House will likely have to make a decision about TikTok’s future in the near future. Trump’s executive order, which temporarily saved the app from being banned, expires on April 5, although the president said he would “probably” extend it if necessary.
