Snap Terminates AI Partnership With Perplexity Amid Strategic Reassessment

Deal Dissolution And Strategic Reassessment

Snap Inc. ended its partnership with Perplexity during the first quarter of 2026, according to its earnings report. The decision cancels previously announced plans to integrate Perplexity’s conversational AI search into Snapchat’s chat interface.

The agreement, first disclosed in November 2025, included a $400 million package in cash and equity. As part of the termination, Snap revised its guidance to exclude any expected revenue contribution from the deal.

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Integration Plans And Broader Rollout Challenges

Integration of conversational AI search was intended to expand how users interact with content within Snapchat, enabling real-time responses inside chat. Testing had begun with a limited group of users, but a broader rollout had not been finalised. The termination reflects challenges in aligning product strategy and deployment timelines for AI features within large-scale consumer platforms.

Solid User Growth And Financial Momentum

Despite the cancellation, Snap reported continued growth across key metrics. Global daily active users increased 5% year-on-year to 483 million, while monthly active users rose 5% to 965 million. Growth was supported by product updates, including features such as Snap Map and augmented reality Lenses. Evan Spiegel said the company is focused on improving revenue performance and free cash flow alongside user growth.

Investment in Innovation and Workforce Restructuring

Looking ahead, Snap Inc. continues to invest in long-term product development, including intelligent eyewear and related technologies, with further details expected at the AWE event on June 16. At the same time, these investments follow a broader restructuring effort. The company reduced approximately 16% of its global workforce, a move linked in part to increased use of automation and AI tools across its operations. The combination of continued product investment and workforce adjustments reflects how the company is reallocating resources while integrating AI into its development and operating model.

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Cyprus Expects More French Visitors In 2027 As Air Capacity Expands

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 18, 2026

Cyprus expects more French visitors in 2027 as airlines increase capacity between the two countries, Tourism Deputy Minister Kostas Koumis said after meetings with tour operators in Paris.

France, one of Cyprus’ key tourism markets, has had a difficult 2026. French arrivals fell 46% year over year to 8,453 in August, from 15,663 a year earlier, according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus (Cystat). August arrivals were also nearly 50% below the 16,798 recorded in the same month of 2024.

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Overall, Cyprus received 2.82 million tourist arrivals between January and August, down 7% from the same period in 2025.

Air Connectivity Supports 2027 Outlook

Koumis discussed the 2027 outlook with senior executives from tour operators offering Cyprus holidays during the IFTM Top Resa travel trade fair in Paris.

Higher air capacity between France and Cyprus was a key focus of the talks. Participants also discussed the impact of geopolitical tensions in the Middle East on the French market and Cyprus’ efforts to adapt its tourism offering to French travelers.

“The French market is undoubtedly an extremely important market for our country’s tourism,” Koumis said, adding that France had regained importance only a few years ago and still had room to grow.

Improved air connectivity will be an important factor in that expansion, according to Koumis. “It is now clear that air connectivity between France and Cyprus is improving significantly, which is a basic prerequisite for the further growth of the market,” he said.

Cyprus Promotes Tourism And Regional Cooperation

Koumis attended the opening of IFTM Top Resa at the invitation of French Tourism Minister Serge Papin, who later visited the Cyprus stand. Held from Sept. 15 to 17 at Paris Porte de Versailles, the event brought together more than 32,000 tourism professionals representing 177 destinations and 1,650 brands, according to organizers.

During his visit, Koumis also met Egyptian Tourism Minister Sherif Fathy. Cyprus and Egypt reaffirmed their tourism cooperation and discussed opportunities to strengthen ties further.

French media interviews covered Cyprus’ tourism offering, infrastructure and services, along with efforts to develop specialized tourism products. Regional instability weighed on arrivals in 2026, particularly during the spring, although the decline narrowed over the summer.

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