AI Startup Perplexity Makes $34.5B Bid for Google Chrome
AI startup Perplexity has made an unexpected $34.5 billion cash offer to buy Google Chrome, a browser used by over three billion people worldwide. The company, backed by major names like Nvidia and Jeff Bezos, says its offer is about “user choice, the open web, and continuity.” While bold, the move is seen by some in the tech world as more of a headline-grabbing stunt than a serious acquisition attempt, especially since Chrome hasn’t even been listed for sale.
This bid comes as Google faces pressure from a U.S. antitrust case that could force it to sell off parts of its business, with Chrome named as a possible divestiture. Perplexity’s proposal includes keeping Google as Chrome’s default search engine, investing $3 billion over two years, and continuing support for Chromium, the browser’s open-source foundation. But critics, including investors and legal experts, argue the offer is far below Chrome’s true value and that any sale would likely be tied up in appeals for years.
Perplexity, which recently launched its own AI browser Comet, has a reputation for bold moves as it made an offer for TikTok’s U.S. arm earlier this year. The company hasn’t explained how it would fully fund the Chrome deal, though it claims multiple investors are ready to back it. Whether the offer is serious or symbolic, it highlights just how valuable browser access has become in the race to control the future of AI search.
