Perplexity Bids $34.5B for Google Chrome Amid DOJ Antitrust Case
In a bold move that has sent ripples across the technology industry, AI search engine Perplexity has launched an unsolicited $34.5 billion all-cash bid to acquire Google Chrome, the world’s most dominant web browser. The audacious offer comes as Google faces intense scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in an ongoing antitrust case, with a federal judge expected to rule on potential remedies, including a forced divestiture of Chrome, later this month.
Perplexity, an AI startup valued at $18 billion as of July 2025, has confirmed its offer, which, if accepted, would be nearly double its own market valuation. To finance the substantial bid, Perplexity claims to have secured commitments from multiple large investment funds, although it has not publicly disclosed their names. The terms of the proposed acquisition are comprehensive: Perplexity pledges to maintain Chrome’s foundational Chromium engine as open-source, commit a significant $3 billion investment into its development over the next two years, and crucially, ensure Google remains the default search provider for existing Chrome users, explicitly promising no clandestine changes to this arrangement. Furthermore, Perplexity aims to extend job offers to a substantial portion of Chrome’s current talent pool.
For Perplexity, this strategic maneuver is multifaceted. The company, which recently launched its own AI-powered browser named Comet, seeks to gain immediate access to Chrome’s formidable user base of over three billion individuals. This would significantly bolster its competitive standing in the rapidly evolving AI-driven search market, where it contends with industry giants like OpenAI, which is also reportedly developing its own AI browser. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has framed the bid as a solution “designed to satisfy an antitrust remedy in highest public interest by placing Chrome with a capable, independent operator,” positioning the company as a neutral steward for the browser. This isn’t Perplexity’s first foray into high-stakes acquisition attempts, having previously offered to merge with TikTok’s U.S. operations in January 2025 amidst regulatory pressures on the short-video platform.
The timing of Perplexity’s offer is inextricably linked to Google’s legal battles. The DOJ’s antitrust lawsuit, initiated in October 2020, culminated in an August 2024 ruling by Judge Amit Mehta, who found that Google had indeed violated antitrust laws by maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search. As part of the potential remedies, the DOJ has advocated for Google to divest Chrome, arguing it serves as a critical access point that grants Google an unfair advantage. However, Google has vehemently opposed such a forced sale, with CEO Sundar Pichai asserting that it would severely harm the company’s business and that the DOJ’s proposals represent a “radical interventionist agenda.” Google has stated its intention to appeal the August 2024 ruling and has not indicated any willingness to sell Chrome, which remains central to its broader AI strategy, including features like AI-generated search summaries.
Despite Perplexity’s bold proposal, industry analysts and observers remain largely skeptical. Estimates for Chrome’s enterprise value vary widely, ranging from $20 billion to $50 billion, with some experts suggesting its true value could be closer to $100 billion, implying Perplexity’s offer might be a significant undervaluation. Many characterize the bid as a “long shot” or even a strategic public relations move, designed to elevate Perplexity’s profile amidst the ongoing antitrust discussions. Adding another layer of complexity, a recent report from Cloudflare in early August accused Perplexity of engaging in “stealth crawling” behavior, allegedly evading website no-crawl directives and impersonating Google Chrome on macOS when blocked, raising questions about its adherence to web crawling norms.
As the tech world awaits Judge Mehta’s decision on remedies in the coming days, Perplexity’s audacious bid underscores the high stakes in the battle for internet dominance and the profound impact of antitrust proceedings on the future landscape of digital platforms.