AI startup Perplexity makes audacious bid for Google's Chrome browser
In a stunning move that has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley, AI startup Perplexity has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion offer to purchase Google's Chrome browser. This audacious bid comes as the Department of Justice pushes for Google to sell Chrome following antitrust violations.
Perplexity made a formal offer to get ahead of potential requirements for Google to sell the browser in US antitrust proceedings. The timing couldn't be more strategic, with regulatory pressure mounting on the tech giant.
David vs Goliath Moment
What makes this bid truly remarkable? Perplexity is offering $34.5 billion - twice the company's own valuation. The AI search company, valued at just $18 billion, is essentially betting everything on acquiring Chrome's billions of users who are crucial to winning the AI search race.
This marks the second major acquisition attempt by Perplexity this year, following their TikTok bid in January. CEO Aravind Srinivas clearly isn't afraid of making headline-grabbing offers.
The Master Plan
Perplexity has committed to keeping Chrome's Chromium engine open source and investing $3 billion into development. Surprisingly, they would retain Google as the default search engine, suggesting this isn't about destroying Google but reshaping the browser landscape.
The move positions Perplexity as a Google Search challenger looking to upend how people find information online. With Chrome controlling over 60% of the global browser market, this acquisition could instantly transform Perplexity into a major tech player.
Industry Disruption Ahead
This bid reveals how seriously AI companies view browser control as the next battleground. OpenAI, Yahoo, and Apollo Global Management have also expressed interest in Chrome, indicating a potential bidding war.
Perplexity might have presented Google with a palatable route to resolving ongoing antitrust issues. Whether Google accepts remains to be seen, but this bold move has already changed the conversation around Big Tech's future.