Alright, let's get this straight. Snap… Snap is getting into bed with Perplexity for a cool $400 million. My first thought? Desperation smells a lot like venture capital these days.
The "AI Savior" Narrative
So, the official line is that this partnership will "enhance discovery and connection" on Snapchat. Oh, please. That’s corporate-speak for "we’re bleeding users and need a Hail Mary." They’re selling it like Perplexity is the magic bullet that’s gonna make Snapchat relevant again.
"Perplexity’s mission is to support the world’s curiosity," says Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity. Right. My translation: "We need cash, and Snap's desperate enough to give it to us."
And Spiegel chimes in with the usual BS: "Our goal is to make AI more personal, social, and fun." Fun? Since when is AI "fun"? It's a tool. A potentially dangerous one at that. Last time I checked, staring into the digital abyss wasn’t exactly a party.
They're basically admitting that their current AI chatbot, "My AI," ain't cutting it. So, instead of fixing their own mess, they're outsourcing it to another company. Brilliant.
The Numbers Game
Snapchat boasts about 943 million monthly active users. Okay, impressive. But how many of those are actually engaged? How many are just zombie accounts or people who open the app once a month to see what their cousins are up to? And 75% of 13–34-year-olds in "over 25 countries" use Snapchat? Which countries? Liechtenstein and San Marino?
And here's the kicker: Perplexity is paying Snap $400 million. Not the other way around. That's… weird, right? It's like paying someone to let you advertise on their failing billboard. What’s Perplexity getting out of this, besides access to a potentially dwindling user base? Are they just betting on the sunk cost fallacy – that Snap users who are already on the platform are easier to convert than new users? Snap partners with Perplexity on $400M integration, 2026 rollout
Speaking of cash, let's not forget Snap also announced a $500 million share repurchase program. Because what better way to prop up a failing stock than to artificially inflate its value? Snap Soars On Q3 Earnings, $500 Million Stock Buyback - Snap (NYSE:SNAP)
You know what else is fun? Trying to navigate NBCUniversal's cookie policy. Seriously, it's like reading a legal document written by a team of robots who are actively trying to confuse you. All those "Strictly Necessary Cookies" and "Personalization Cookies"...give me a break. It's all just data harvesting, plain and simple.
Oh, offcourse, I got distracted. Back to Snap.
The 2026 Rollout – If It Even Happens
The deal is supposed to roll out in early 2026. That's a lifetime in tech years. Who knows what the landscape will look like then? Maybe Snapchat will be the next MySpace, and Perplexity will be kicking themselves for throwing away $400 million.
Or maybe I'm wrong. Maybe this is a stroke of genius. Maybe Perplexity's AI will magically transform Snapchat into a thriving hub of intellectual curiosity and meaningful connection.
Nah. Let's be real, ain't gonna happen.