Nvidia in Talks to Back Perplexity at $30 Billion Valuation as AI Investment Strategy Deepens

Nvidia is in talks to back Perplexity at more than $30bn

The chipmaker also weighed a technology licensing arrangement alongside the equity cheque, according to The Information. Nvidia has been discussing an investment in Perplexity that would value the AI search company at more than $30bn, according to The Information, which reported that the two sides also considered a technology licensing arrangement alongside the equity cheque. The talks are the latest turn in a relationship that already runs deeper than the usual investor-and-customer arrangement, since Perplexity was among the first named takers for Nvidia's Vera CPU. At more than $30bn, the valuation would represent a jump of over 50% on the roughly $20bn Perplexity carried after its last reported round, and it would land the company among the most richly priced private AI businesses in the world. The round itself is described as worth billions of dollars, though neither the size of Nvidia's proposed stake nor the identity of the other participants has been reported. Neither company has commented publicly, and it is not clear whether the licensing component is still live or was set aside during the negotiations. What makes the discussions unremarkable, in one sense, is how routine this kind of cheque has become for Nvidia. Its equity commitments passed $40bn in 2026 alone, spread across model developers, neoclouds, and infrastructure companies that, almost without exception, buy Nvidia silicon with the money. That circularity has started to attract a different sort of attention. When the company announced roughly $750bn of AI-related commitments, its own credit default swaps widened to record levels, a signal from the debt market that the arrangement looks less like diversification than like a supplier financing its own order book. Perplexity is an unusually visible example of the type. Founded in 2022 and led by Aravind Srinivas, it built a conversational search product that answers queries directly rather than returning a page of blue links and has spent the past two years trying to make it durable enough to justify its price. In August 2025, the company made an unsolicited $34.5bn offer for Google's Chrome browser, a bid roughly double its own valuation at the time, which Google never entertained. It has since pushed its own AI browser, Comet, as the vehicle for what Srinivas calls agentic browsing. The competitive picture has not softened while all this was going on. Google has folded conversational answers into its own results page, OpenAI has pushed ChatGPT further into search and shipped a browser of its own, and both arrive with distribution that Perplexity has to buy or build. Perplexity has not disclosed audited figures, and the widely circulated estimates of its annualised run rate come from investor briefings and secondary reporting rather than the company itself, which makes any multiple attached to a $30bn valuation an exercise in faith. Nvidia is already on the cap table, having taken part in earlier rounds that also drew in Jeff Bezos. A licensing deal, had it been agreed, would have been a rarer move, giving Perplexity access to Nvidia technology on terms that sit outside the ordinary customer relationship, and giving Nvidia a stake in how AI search actually gets built rather than merely in the hardware underneath it. For now, the round is unconfirmed, which is worth holding onto. Reports of AI valuations have a habit of arriving well before term sheets are signed, and Perplexity itself has been the subject of several such reports over the past 18 months, at $14bn, at $18bn, and at $20bn, each of which arrived with people familiar with the matter attached and each of which took months to settle into a number anyone would put their name to. Nvidia reports its next quarterly results in November. Whether a Perplexity stake shows up in the investment line by then will say more about the pace of this cycle than the valuation itself does.

Perplexity Deal Highlights A Pattern In Nvidia's AI Investments - NVIDIA (NASDAQ:NVDA)

Nvidia Corp.'s (NASDAQ:NVDA) reported talks to invest in AI startup Perplexity at a valuation exceeding $30 billion are notable on their own. But the proposed deal also fits an increasingly familiar pattern: Nvidia is repeatedly investing in companies that are building their AI businesses on the same infrastructure the chipmaker sells. According to The Information, Nvidia is discussing participating in Perplexity's next funding round, which would value the AI search and AI agent startup at more than $30 billion. The report follows Perplexity's announcement last month that it plans to deploy Nvidia's new Vera CPUs for AI agent workloads after finding the chips significantly outperformed traditional server processors for some of its core tasks. Perplexity Isn't An Isolated Example The reported investment follows a series of Nvidia-backed companies that also rely heavily on Nvidia's hardware. Earlier this year, Nvidia expanded its relationship with AI cloud provider CoreWeave, Inc. (NASDAQ:CRWV) by investing another $2 billion in the company while simultaneously deepening their infrastructure partnership. CoreWeave is deploying multiple generations of Nvidia technology -- including Rubin GPUs, Vera CPUs and BlueField networking -- as it builds AI factories for enterprise customers. Nvidia's latest Form 13F also shows CoreWeave remains one of the chipmaker's largest publicly disclosed equity holdings, alongside stakes in companies including Nebius Group N.V. (NASDAQ:NBIS), Intel Corp (NASDAQ:INTC), Nokia Corp (NYSE:NOK) and Synopsys, Inc. (NASDAQ:SNPS). Nebius, meanwhile, has emerged as another AI infrastructure company expanding cloud capacity around Nvidia GPUs, giving the chipmaker exposure not only through chip sales but also through its equity position. Long Ideas Nvidia's $1.5 Billion Lambda Loop Looks A Lot Like CoreWeave 2.0 Nvidia uses creative finance to cash in twice, first on chip sales, then on startup equity. It diversifies customer base and maintains AI chip dominance. 2 min read Read this article The Strategy Extends Beyond Public Holdings The pattern also appears in Nvidia's private investments. The company has continued backing AI startups including Fireworks, Sarvam, Safe Superintelligence Inc and Firmus, adding to a growing portfolio that spans foundation models, AI infrastructure and enterprise AI applications. Trending Get a 1% Match on Your First Deposit of $1,000+ Many of these businesses either deploy Nvidia hardware directly or build products designed to run on Nvidia-powered AI infrastructure. More Than A Chip Supplier None of this proves Nvidia invests because a company buys its chips. But the overlap has become increasingly difficult to ignore. As companies like Perplexity, CoreWeave and Nebius expand AI infrastructure, inference workloads and enterprise AI deployments, they also create additional demand for the accelerated computing platforms Nvidia sells. That creates a reinforcing cycle: Nvidia benefits from supplying the hardware that powers AI companies, while selective equity investments give it exposure to the growth of those same businesses. Perplexity's reported funding round may be the latest example of that approach. Rather than simply selling processors, Nvidia increasingly appears to be placing strategic bets across the AI value chain -- from the infrastructure providers building AI factories to the startups creating the next generation of AI applications. Markets Why Falling AI Prices Could Be Good News for Nvidia Stock AI companies like OpenAI, DeepSeek are slashing prices. Cheaper AI could, increase demand for Nvidia's GPUs by accelerating adoption. 4 min read Read this article Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

Nvidia Considers Backing Perplexity at $30 Billion Valuation | PYMNTS.com

The new funding would be worth billions of dollars and value Perplexity at more than $30 billion, more than doubling the company's valuation from a year ago, according to the report, which cited unnamed sources. Nvidia and Perplexity have been strengthening their ties, the report said. Perplexity's annualized revenue has risen to more than $750 million from under $250 million at the start of the year, due partially to Perplexity Computer, an AI agent professionals use to automate computer tasks, according to the report. Nvidia had previously considered a multibillion-dollar licensing deal with Perplexity as part of its plan to develop its own AI models and software. Nvidia has acted as a "central bank" of sorts to AI startups in the last several years, giving these companies billions of dollars as they rent or buy Nvidia's chips, the report said. In addition, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang has said in interviews that Perplexity is his go-to chatbot. While Nvidia has spent tens of billions of dollars on investments and collaborations centered around chip, networking and data center-related firms, it has also begun pursuing licensing or hiring deals with startups, per the report. For example, the company agreed last week to pay $6 billion to license AI model development software from Poolside, while investing $1 billion in the firm at a $12 billion pre-money valuation. Late last year, Nvidia acquired tech from AI inference company Groq and hired several members of the firm's team, although Groq said it would keep operating as an independent business. Meanwhile, the PYMNTS Intelligence report "From First Prompt to Daily Habit: The Data Behind Rising Gen AI Reliance," published in July, found that the use of generative AI for personal tasks is growing, with 69% of people who use generative AI for learning and self-improvement saying they use it more now than when they first started. According to the report, the heavier use extends to other task categories, as 66% use it for writing and communication, and 63% use it for managing finances and banking, planning travel and activities, and managing health and wellness. For all PYMNTS AI coverage, subscribe to the daily AI Newsletter.

NVIDIA Eyes Major Investment in Perplexity at Over $30 Billion Valuation

The company was valued at $20 billion in its previous financing round in 2025. A new valuation above $30 billion would represent an increase of more than 50% in about a year. NVIDIA is reportedly in talks to invest in Perplexity AI, with the proposed funding round potentially valuing the AI startup at more than $30 billion. The discussions come as Perplexity continues to expand its AI search business and build new products around AI agents. The company was valued at $20 billion in its previous financing round in 2025. A new valuation above $30 billion would represent an increase of more than 50% in about a year. Perplexity has also recorded strong revenue growth in 2026. Its annualized revenue has risen to more than $750 million from less than $250 million at the beginning of the year. Part of the increase has been driven by Perplexity Computer, an AI agent that helps professionals automate computer-based tasks. The company is now building a business that goes beyond answering search queries, with products designed to help users research information and complete tasks. This gives Perplexity a wider opportunity in the AI market. Search remains an important part of the business, but the company is also competing in a growing market for AI assistants and software agents. The change is important for the company's business model. An AI agent can require significantly more computing resources than a simple search query, particularly when it needs to process multiple steps, use different tools or complete a task on a user's behalf. The two companies have also developed closer business ties. According to the media reports, NVIDIA previously considered paying Perplexity billions of dollars to license some of its technology and hiring some of its employees. The latest discussions are focused on an equity investment in the startup. For NVIDIA, an investment would provide a direct financial interest in a fast-growing AI application company. For Perplexity, having NVIDIA as an investor could strengthen its relationship with one of the world's leading AI infrastructure companies. The company's revenue growth is one of the factors supporting the higher valuation. Annualized revenue has increased from below $250 million to more than $750 million since the beginning of 2026. The rise has been supported in part by Perplexity Computer and the company's expanding AI product portfolio. Perplexity is also attracting high-profile investors. Its backers include Jeff Bezos and SoftBank Group, adding to the company's list of major financial supporters. The chipmaker has increasingly positioned its technology around the next phase of AI computing, including infrastructure designed for inference and agentic workloads. NVIDIA's Vera CPU, for example, was introduced as a platform built for agentic AI, reinforcement learning and large-scale data processing. A new funding round at a valuation above $30 billion would give Perplexity additional capital to invest in product development, infrastructure and its growing enterprise business ahead of a potential public listing. Perplexity gives NVIDIA exposure to the application side of that market. Its products are used directly by consumers and businesses, while its growing focus on AI agents places it in an area that is attracting significant attention from technology companies and investors.

Nvidia in Talks to Back Jeff Bezos-Funded Perplexity at Over $30 Billion Valuation As AI Startup's Revenu

Nvidia Corp (NASDAQ:NVDA) is reportedly in discussions to invest in Perplexity as the fast-growing AI startup seeks funding at a valuation exceeding $30 billion. Nvidia Eyes Stake in Perplexity at $30 Billion Valuation Nvidia is considering participating in Perplexity's latest equity financing round, which could value the company at more than $30 billion, Reuters reported (via The Information). In September last year, Perplexity had reportedly finalized a $20 billion valuation. Nvidia and Perplexity did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comment. Perplexity Revenue Surges as AI Agent Gains Traction Perplexity's annualized revenue has climbed above $750 million, up from less than $250 million at the beginning of the year, according to the report. The growth has been partly attributed to Perplexity Computer, a cloud-based AI agent designed to automate computer-based tasks for professional users. Equities Perplexity's CEO Predicts Micron Could Overtake Meta In Stunning AI Power Shift: 'Whatever Is The Bottleneck Will...' Perplexity CEO says Micron will outgrow Meta. Learn why 'the bottleneck' of AI hardware dictates the biggest stock winners. 3 min read Read this article The sharp revenue increase is helping fuel investor interest as demand for AI-powered search and autonomous agents accelerates. Bezos, SoftBank Among Perplexity's Backers Perplexity has attracted prominent investors, including Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) founder Jeff Bezos and Japan's SoftBank Group (OTC:SFTBF) (OTC:SFTBY). Trending Get a 1% Match on Your First Deposit of $1,000+ Earlier this year, the company reportedly signed a $750 million agreement with Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) to use its Azure cloud infrastructure. In a June interview with CNBC, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said the company plans to pursue an initial public offering in 2028, regardless of how the planned listings of OpenAI and Anthropic perform. Price Action: Nvidia shares fell 0.98% to $214.72 in Friday's trading session, according to Benzinga Pro. According to Benzinga Edge Rankings, Nvidia ranks in the 99th percentile for Growth and maintains positive short-, medium- and long-term price trend ratings. Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Equities 'Computer' - Perplexity Introduces Unified AI Platform For Research, Coding, Deployment Perplexity AI has launched Perplexity Computer, a next-generation platform designed to unify files, tools, and 19 separate AI models into a single orchestrated system. 2 min read Read this article Photo Courtesy: Mijansk786 on Shutterstock.com Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.

NVIDIA Eyes Investment in Perplexity at Over USD 30 Billion Valuation

NVIDIA is reportedly looking to invest in Perplexity at a valuation exceeding USD 30 billion as the AI startup sees a sharp rise in revenue. NVIDIA could soon make a big move in the AI startup space. According to recent reports, the company is about to invest a significant amount in , which will increase the company's value to more than USD 30 billion. If the multi-billion-dollar deal succeeds, it will likely increase Perplexity's valuation by more than 50%. However, neither NVIDIA nor Perplexity has confirmed the talks. The timing is also important. Perplexity's annual revenue has now crossed USD 750 million. This is a sharp jump from less than USD 250 million at the start of 2026. Much of the growth is coming from its AI products, including Perplexity Computer. The company has also signed a USD 750 million deal with Microsoft for Azure cloud services.