近年来备受瞩目的AI初创公司，如Perplexity和Writer，正面临严峻的挑战。据The Information的最新报道，由于高昂的AI研发成本以及日益激烈的市场竞争，尤其是来自谷歌的强劲压力，这些曾经被誉为“谷歌杀手”的明星企业正在寻求合并或出售的可能路径。Perplexity的管理层在过去一年中与至少四家潜在的合作伙伴进行了深度探讨，试图通过合并来应对经济压力和市场竞争。然而，这些谈判最终未能达成共识，主要原因是对于AI模型训练成本的担忧。
Writer方面，据悉在过去几个月中，该公司已接触了至少三家潜在买家，但目前尚无具体交易结果。与此同时，专注于隐私保护的搜索引擎Neeva已经选择了被数据库软件巨头Snowflake收购，这似乎预示着AI初创公司在当前环境下寻求更大规模企业庇护的趋势。
尽管Perplexity的合并谈判在去年年底宣告搁置，但公司仍然在B轮融资中以5.2亿美元的估值成功筹集了7360万美元，显示出投资者对其技术潜力仍抱有信心。然而，这一情况也反映出AI初创公司在寻求可持续发展道路上所面临的复杂局面，即在技术进步和市场压力之间寻找平衡，以及如何在巨头林立的科技行业中保持独立和竞争力。
英语如下：
News Title: “AI Darling Firms Struggle with High Costs: Perplexity Among Those Seeking Sale Amid Google’s Intensifying Competition”
Keywords: AI companies for sale, Perplexity merger talks, Google’s competitive pressure
News Content: High-profile AI startups like Perplexity and Writer have been facing significant challenges in recent years. According to the latest report from The Information, these once-celebrated “Google killers” are now exploring merger or sale options due to the exorbitant costs of AI research and development and the escalating市场竞争, particularly from Google.
Perplexity’s management has engaged in in-depth discussions with at least four potential partners over the past year to alleviate economic pressures and competitive stress through consolidation. However, these negotiations failed to materialize, primarily due to concerns over the expenses associated with AI model training.
As for Writer, it is understood that the company has reached out to at least three potential buyers in the last few months, though no concrete deal has emerged. Simultaneously, privacy-focused search engine Neeva’s decision to be acquired by database software giant Snowflake seems to signal a trend among AI startups seeking shelter with larger entities in the current landscape.
Despite the suspension of Perplexity’s merger talks at the end of last year, the company successfully raised $73.6 million in its B-round funding at a valuation of $520 million, indicating investors’ continued faith in its technological potential. This situation, nevertheless, underscores the intricate dilemma AI startups face in balancing technological advancements with market pressures, and maintaining independence and competitiveness amidst the dominance of tech giants.
【来源】https://wallstreetcn.com/articles/3707716
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