Nvidia Is Reportedly Discussing a Perplexity Stake at a $30 Billion-Plus Valuation

Nvidia is reportedly discussing a fresh equity investment in Perplexity that could value the AI search startup at more than $30 billion. If completed, the round would extend a relationship that has already moved from investment to a commitment to run Perplexity’s AI-agent workloads on Nvidia CPUs; for now, though, the financing is a reported negotiation rather than an announced transaction.

An existing relationship before the new talks

Nvidia has invested in Perplexity since 2023. In July, Perplexity committed to run its AI-agent workloads on Nvidia’s Vera CPUs, linking the startup’s agent product to Nvidia infrastructure before the reported funding discussions.

The reported talks represent a different potential layer of that relationship: ownership. The Information, as cited in the accounts, said Nvidia had previously considered a licensing arrangement with Perplexity or hiring some employees before discussions shifted toward a possible equity stake.

A valuation step built on reported growth

A valuation above $30 billion would be more than 50% higher than Perplexity’s roughly $20 billion valuation after last year’s round. The reported step-up is being framed alongside rapid growth in the company’s annualized revenue, which Reuters reported had risen to more than $750 million from less than $250 million at the start of the year.

TheStreet attributed part of that reported revenue surge to Perplexity Computer, a cloud-based AI agent intended to help professionals automate computer-based tasks. That product connection helps explain why the Vera CPU commitment is relevant: Perplexity has tied its agent workloads to Nvidia hardware while potentially seeking new Nvidia capital.

What is known about Perplexity’s funding position

• Jeff Bezos and SoftBank Group are identified among Perplexity’s existing investors.
• The reported new transaction is described as an equity investment within a potential funding round, not as an acquisition or a licensing deal.
• Neither a transaction nor financing terms have been announced in the supplied accounts.

The next move is still unconfirmed

The immediate checkpoint is Nvidia’s fiscal second-quarter earnings announcement, scheduled for August 26, when investors are watching for updates on the company’s AI investments and partnerships. Yet the central question remains open: Reuters reported the potential Perplexity investment but could not independently verify its details, so the round’s size, valuation and final structure remain uncertain.