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Published 21:27 IST, February 4th 2025

Who Is Buying TikTok? Indian-Origin Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas Drops Hint - See Post

The US government has intensified scrutiny over TikTok, citing national security concerns.

Reported by: Business Desk
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TikTok | Image: Republic

Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas has stirred speculation with a cryptic post on X—simply writing “Tik Tok.” His tweet comes as ByteDance faces mounting pressure to sell TikTok’s US operations or risk a complete ban.

Tik Tok

— Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) February 3, 2025

Could Perplexity AI be eyeing TikTok?

The timing of Srinivas’ post has led to speculation that Perplexity AI might be interested in acquiring TikTok. Reports suggest that the AI startup has proposed a merger structure that would allow existing ByteDance investors to retain their stake while giving the US government a significant ownership share post-IPO.

Why is TikTok facing a ban?

The US government has intensified scrutiny over TikTok, citing national security concerns. Lawmakers worry that the app’s Chinese ownership could allow Beijing access to user data or influence content. In April, President Joe Biden signed a bill requiring ByteDance to either sell TikTok’s US business or face an outright ban, giving the company a deadline to divest.

ByteDance has opposed the law, arguing that selling TikTok is neither feasible nor necessary. However, with regulatory pressure mounting, speculation over potential buyers is growing.

Who else could buy TikTok?

Several high-profile names have emerged as potential buyers for TikTok’s US operations. While Elon Musk has not publicly expressed interest, reports suggest that his name has been floated by the Trump administration, as owning TikTok could align with his ambitions in social media and AI.

YouTube megastar MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) has also hinted at discussions with billionaire investors about acquiring the platform, leveraging his deep understanding of the creator economy.

Oracle, which already handles TikTok’s US web infrastructure, remains a serious contender, having previously attempted to acquire the company in 2020 under the Trump administration’s push for divestment.

Microsoft, which pursued TikTok in the past, could re-enter the race, especially given its growing focus on AI and cloud services. Additionally, Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison and former US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin have reportedly discussed forming an investor group to bid for TikTok’s US business.

What’s next?

With ByteDance resisting the forced sale, the situation remains uncertain. If TikTok is put on the market, the competition for its US business could become one of the biggest tech deals in history.

Updated 21:27 IST, February 4th 2025