Google is increasingly being left behind, many are turning to its successor

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia –Google is facing intense pressure. The search engine giant is facing lawsuits in several countries related to anti-monopoly cases.

At the same time, Google is also increasingly being eroded by competition with artificial intelligence (AI)-based search engine services. In fact, many young people are starting to turn to social media such as TikTok or AI chatbot services to get information.

Recently, Reuters reported that Apple is also exploring the option of using AI-based search engine services in its Safari browser. This could shake up Google’s search engine dominance on Apple-made devices.

Most recently, Samsung has also reportedly been investing in the Perplexity AI startup and using its search technology in Samsung devices in the future.

Quoted from Bloomberg, Monday (2/6/2025), Samsung and Perplexity are in talks to embed the Perplexity application and assistant into Samsung devices.

The Perplexity search feature is said to be integrated into Samsung’s browser, according to people familiar with the discussions. In fact, Perplexity technology is also said to be embedded in the Bixby virtual assistant.

Reportedly, Samsung plans to announce the integration of its devices with Perplexity this year, according to inside sources. It is possible that Perplexity will be embedded in the Galaxy S26 series in early 2026. However, the specific details are not final and could still change.

Samsung is predicted to be one of Perplexity’s largest investors in the startup’s latest funding series. Reportedly, Perplexity plans to raise US$500 million in funding with a valuation of US$14 billion.

The partnership between Samsung and Perplexity will reduce the South Korean giant’s dependence on Google. This strategy is similar to what Apple does for its devices and services.

For Perplexity, this partnership will mark the largest collaboration with a mobile device company, following its collaboration with Motorola some time ago.

Representatives for Samsung and Perplexity declined to comment.

In April, Bloomberg reported that Samsung and Perplexity had begun discussions about their strategic partnership since early this year. The two parties met in South Korea, according to inside sources.

Samsung and Perplexity are also said to be in discussions to build an AI-based operating system and more functional AI applications.

Apple has also shown interest in partnering with Perplexity. Apple is said to be planning to make Perplexity an alternative to Google Search, as well as a substitute for ChatGPT, according to a Bloomberg report.

“We were very impressed with what Perplexity was doing. So we started talking to them,” Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of services, said in testimony at Google’s antitrust trial.

SOURCE : CNBC INDONESIA