Perplexity AI submits a bid to merge with TikTok's U.S. operations, aiming to create a new entity that combines advanced AI capabilities with the video-sharing platform amid possible ban threats. The proposed merger structure allows ByteDance's investors to retain equity stakes, with the merged entity's valuation expected to exceed $50 billion. Legal and political complexities surround the merger, with a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok or face a ban, while Perplexity sees the merger as a strategic move to revolutionize AI-powered search.In a dramatic move to prevent TikTok's potential US ban, Perplexity AI, a U.S.-based artificial intelligence search engine