Perplexity's $34.5B Chrome bid: Strategic AI move or unlikely deal?
In a move that has sent ripples across the technology landscape, AI startup Perplexity has launched an unsolicited, all-cash offer of $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s ubiquitous Chrome web browser. The audacious bid, made public on August 12, 2025, is widely viewed within the industry as a strategic declaration of intent rather than an immediately feasible transaction, though its timing is undeniably shrewd.
Perplexity, a company recently valued at $18 billion following a $100 million funding round in July 2025, is proposing to nearly double its own worth to seize control of the internet’s most popular browser. While the sheer scale of the offer raises eyebrows, Perplexity has asserted that multiple major venture capital funds have committed to fully financing the deal should Google’s parent company, Alphabet, accept. This financial backing underscores a growing trend of well-funded AI startups making aggressive plays for established digital real estate.
The timing of Perplexity’s bid is inextricably linked to Google’s ongoing legal battles. The offer surfaces as U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta considers potential remedies in a landmark antitrust case where Google was found to have illegally monopolized the search market in 2024. Among the remedies being deliberated is the possibility of compelling Google to divest Chrome, a scenario Perplexity appears poised to capitalize on. By publicly tendering such a substantial offer, Perplexity could be signaling to the court that a viable, independent buyer exists if a forced sale is mandated, potentially influencing the judge’s decision.
For Perplexity, the acquisition of Chrome, which boasts over three billion users and commands more than 60% of the global browser market share, represents an unparalleled opportunity to dramatically scale its reach and challenge dominant players like OpenAI. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, an Indian-origin techie, co-founded the company in 2022 and has openly positioned it to compete with Google in the AI search race. The startup recently launched its own AI-powered web browser, “Comet,” built on Chromium, demonstrating its existing foray into the browser space. Acquiring Chrome would provide an immediate, massive distribution channel for Perplexity’s integrated AI tools and its vision for “agentic search,” where AI actively performs tasks on a user’s behalf. Perplexity has also committed to keeping Chrome’s codebase open-source, investing $3 billion over two years into its infrastructure, and maintaining Google as the default search engine, while allowing users the freedom to change it.
Google, for its part, has shown no inclination to sell Chrome, which is deeply integrated into its advertising ecosystem, providing crucial user data for targeted ads. CEO Sundar Pichai has previously argued that a forced divestiture or data sharing would harm Google’s business, stifle future investments, and introduce security vulnerabilities. Analysts’ valuations for Chrome vary, ranging from $20 billion to $50 billion, highlighting its strategic importance and significant market value.
This isn’t Perplexity’s first bold move. The company previously made an offer to merge with TikTok US in January 2025, just before a potential U.S. ban on the Chinese social media app. While many industry observers view the Chrome bid as a calculated public relations maneuver to garner attention and underscore the potential impact of antitrust rulings, it undeniably signals a new era where well-funded AI startups are prepared to challenge tech giants for foundational internet assets. As regulatory pressures intensify on established incumbents, the landscape for strategic acquisitions and disruptive plays is rapidly evolving, creating unprecedented opportunities for ambitious new entrants.