Perplexity Offers $34.5B for Google Chrome Amid Antitrust Scrutiny
In a surprising move that has sent ripples through the technology sector, AI search startup Perplexity has launched an unsolicited all-cash bid of $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s dominant Chrome web browser and its underlying open-source Chromium project. This audacious offer, confirmed by a Perplexity spokesperson, arrives at a pivotal moment, closely coinciding with an imminent decision from U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta regarding remedies in the landmark antitrust case against Google.
Perplexity, a company valued at approximately $18 billion, is proposing to pay nearly twice its own worth, with the startup asserting that unnamed venture capital firms and major funds have committed to fully finance the ambitious deal. This is not Perplexity’s first bold play; the company reportedly attempted to merge with TikTok’s U.S. operations earlier this year, signaling a clear intent to disrupt established tech giants.
The strategic timing of Perplexity’s bid is undeniable. Last August, Judge Mehta ruled that Google had unlawfully monopolized online search services. As the court deliberates potential remedies, which could include the forced divestiture of Chrome, Perplexity is positioning itself as a “capable, independent operator” ready to take the reins. The Department of Justice has actively pushed for the sale of Chrome as a means to restore competition in the search market.
For Perplexity, the motivations behind such a monumental acquisition are clear. Chrome boasts an estimated 3.5 to 3.8 billion users, commanding between 60% and 67.9% of the global browser market, making it an unparalleled distribution channel. Acquiring Chrome would instantly catapult Perplexity from a niche innovator to a global platform owner, granting it direct access to billions of users and significantly bolstering its competitive standing in the rapidly evolving AI-driven search landscape. Perplexity, which recently launched its own Chromium-based browser, Comet, views browsers as crucial strategic control points for the next era of “agentic search” and online advertising. The company has pledged to maintain Chromium as open source, keep Google as the default search engine (while allowing users to change it), and commit $3 billion over two years to enhance Chrome’s speed, privacy, and AI integration.
However, the prospect of Google willingly parting with Chrome remains highly improbable. Chrome is not merely a browser; it serves as a critical gateway to Google’s vast ecosystem of services, including its search engine, advertising platforms, and data collection, making it foundational to the company’s multi-trillion-dollar valuation. Google has publicly stated its intention to appeal the antitrust ruling, and CEO Sundar Pichai has testified that a forced sale of Chrome would severely harm Google’s business, stifle future investments in technology, and potentially create security risks. Industry analysts largely view Perplexity’s offer as a “PR stunt” or a “long shot,” given Chrome’s immense strategic value, which some estimates place between $20 billion and $50 billion, though many believe its true worth to Google is far greater. Notably, other major tech players, including OpenAI and Yahoo, have also reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Chrome should Google be compelled to sell.
This unexpected bid underscores the intense pressure on Google amid its ongoing legal battles and highlights the burgeoning ambition of AI-first companies. Regardless of whether the acquisition materializes, Perplexity’s audacious offer has undeniably reshaped the conversation around Big Tech’s market dominance, the future of web browsing, and the strategic importance of browsers in the age of artificial intelligence.