Artificial intelligence search startup Perplexity has made an unexpected $34.5 billion offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser, signaling its ambition to reshape how people interact with the web. The move comes as Google faces heightened scrutiny from U.S. regulators following a landmark antitrust ruling against its search operations. The Department of Justice has suggested that selling Chrome could be one solution, although Google has called the idea “unprecedented” and harmful to consumers and security.
Perplexity’s bid, while unlikely to succeed due to Google’s resistance, underscores the growing influence of AI-driven companies in challenging established tech giants.
Perplexity’s AI Vision and Browser Strategy
Founded nearly three years ago, Perplexity launched an AI-powered search engine in December 2022 to compete with Google’s dominant platform. The company’s technology uses artificial intelligence models to analyze web content and generate concise summaries, while still providing source links. In July, Perplexity introduced its AI-driven browser, Comet, designed to offer a more personalized web experience by integrating users’ calendars, browsing tabs, and social media channels.
According to Perplexity spokesperson Jesse Dwyer, if the company acquired Chrome, it would preserve users’ current browsing preferences, including Google as the default search engine. The startup has pledged to support Chrome for the next 100 months and invest $3 billion into Chromium, Google’s open-source browser framework, over the next two years. Chromium serves as the foundation for browsers developed by various tech firms, including Microsoft and Perplexity itself.
“Perplexity believes in an open web,” Dwyer said, emphasizing the company’s commitment to maintaining Chrome’s ecosystem while enhancing it with AI capabilities.
Financial Implications and Market Response
Perplexity was valued at $18 billion after a $100 million funding round, making the Chrome offer nearly double its current valuation. Google, by contrast, is worth around $2.5 trillion, with shares rising roughly 1% following news of the bid. Reports indicate that several venture capital firms have agreed to back Perplexity’s proposed acquisition.
Wedbush tech analyst Dan Ives described the move as “opportunistic,” noting that Chrome’s estimated value could exceed $50 billion. “This is high-stakes poker, and Perplexity made a strategic play given the regulatory pressure on Google,” he said.
Perplexity’s Broader Ambitions
This is not Perplexity’s first high-profile acquisition attempt. Earlier this year, the startup reportedly expressed interest in acquiring TikTok, following legislation that required ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to sell the platform to a non-China-based entity.
Perplexity has also attracted attention from major tech companies. Bloomberg and The Information have reported discussions with Meta and Apple regarding potential acquisitions of the AI search firm, though it remains unclear if those talks will lead to deals.
The offer for Chrome illustrates the growing ambition of AI-driven companies to not just compete in search but to influence how billions of users navigate the internet. Whether Google will entertain the unsolicited bid remains uncertain, but Perplexity’s bold move highlights the shifting dynamics in the tech industry as AI startups increasingly challenge long-established giants.
