AI startup Perplexity offers $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s Chrome browser

Perplexity, which focuses on developing advanced AI-powered search technology, has made a $34.5 billion proposal to acquire Google’s Chrome browser, Bloomberg reported Tuesday, citing a Perplexity spokesperson. The AI startup sent the bid to Alphabet’s Google this morning.

The offer comes amid ongoing antitrust legal proceedings against Google. A federal judge ruled last year that Google holds an illegal monopoly on internet search. As part of possible remedies, the US government wants Google to sell Chrome and share its search data with competitors.

Perplexity is making the offer to position itself for a potential forced sale of Chrome, resulting from Google’s antitrust case. US District Judge Amit Mehta is expected to issue remedial measures soon to address Google’s search market dominance.

Not only Perplexity, but OpenAI has also expressed interest in acquiring Google Chrome if antitrust regulators force Google to divest the browser.

OpenAI, under Sam Altman’s leadership, is preparing to release an AI-powered browser integrating ChatGPT and AI agents to challenge Chrome.

Perplexity is also developing its own browser, Comet, featuring an AI agent. The company previously made an offer to merge with TikTok’s US operations amid the platform’s potential ban.

Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, said in a statement that several big investment funds had agreed to finance the entire deal. The company recently secured $100 million in funding, valuing it at $18 billion.

Perplexity promises not to make “stealth modifications” to Chrome, ensuring users and advertisers experience stability. If the deal goes through, they plan to invest $3 billion over two years to improve Chrome and the related open-source Chromium project, and “extend offers to a substantial portion of Chrome talent.”