Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence startup valued at $18 billion, has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser, CNBC and other sources confirmed. This surprising bid nearly doubles Perplexity’s own valuation and is backed by several investors who have committed to finance the deal.
Perplexity’s proposal includes keeping Chrome’s underlying Chromium engine open source and pledges to invest approximately $3 billion into Chrome’s ongoing development. Importantly, the startup has committed to maintaining Google as the default search engine in Chrome, though users would still be free to change it.
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The bid follows intense legal scrutiny of Google after a landmark U.S. Department of Justice antitrust ruling determined that Google illegally monopolized the internet search market. The DOJ has suggested divesting Chrome as a remedy, contending that loosening Google’s grip on this key browser would foster a more competitive search landscape. Google has vehemently opposed the proposal, labeling it “wildly overbroad,” and intends to appeal.
For Perplexity, acquiring Chrome would represent a bold leap, giving the company direct access to Chrome’s estimated three billion users and immense search traffic. This expansion would fuel Perplexity’s goal to aggressively compete in the generative AI market against major players like OpenAI and Meta, driving innovation in AI-powered browsing experiences. Perplexity recently launched its own AI-driven browser called Comet and has also sought to expand via bold moves like a proposed merger with TikTok’s U.S. operations earlier this year.
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While Google has not stated that Chrome is for sale, the ongoing antitrust case and potential forced divestiture create the backdrop for this high-stakes bid. Industry observers remain skeptical about a voluntary sale given Chrome’s strategic role in Google’s AI and search ecosystem, yet the final remedy ruling from the court could reshape the browser market dramatically.
In summary, Perplexity’s $34.5 billion offer stakes a claim to what is widely considered one of the most valuable software assets in the world amid turbulent competition and regulatory upheaval in the AI and search sectors. The outcome of this bid will be closely watched as it could redefine the future landscape of internet browsing and AI integration.
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