Perplexity AI Makes Bold $34.5 Billion Bid for Google's Chrome Amid Antitrust Battle

Artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion all-cash offer to acquire Google's Chrome browser, a move that comes amid ongoing antitrust proceedings against Google. The bid, announced on August 12, 2025, underscores the strategic importance of web browsers in the evolving AI landscape and highlights the intensifying scrutiny over Google's market dominance.

Perplexity AI, founded in 2022 by Aravind Srinivas and his team, has rapidly emerged as a significant player in the AI-powered search engine market. As of July 2025, the company was valued at approximately $18 billion. Perplexity is best known for its AI-driven search engine that provides users with concise answers and links to original source material. In October 2024, the company launched its own AI-powered browser called Comet, which currently has about 15 million monthly active users.

The $34.5 billion bid is nearly double Perplexity's own valuation, underscoring the strategic importance the company places on acquiring Chrome. The startup claims to have secured financing from unnamed venture capital funds to support the acquisition. Perplexity has pledged to maintain Chrome's open-source Chromium codebase, invest $3 billion over two years into its development, and keep Google as the default search engine, while allowing users the freedom to choose alternatives.

Google has not indicated any intention to sell Chrome and is currently appealing the antitrust ruling. In August 2024, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google acted illegally to maintain a monopoly in "general search services and general text advertising." The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has proposed that Google divest Chrome as a remedy to restore competition in the search market. Google has criticized the DOJ's proposal, calling it "wildly overbroad" and accusing the agency of pushing "a radical interventionist agenda."

Chrome, launched by Google in 2008, dominates the browser market with nearly 68% market share and serves as a critical gateway to the internet for over 3.5 billion users. The browser provides Google with valuable data used for targeting ads, making it a significant asset in the company's portfolio.

Other entities, including OpenAI, have also expressed interest in acquiring Chrome if divestiture becomes necessary. OpenAI sees Chrome as a launchpad for an 'AI-first' browsing experience, integrating its AI technologies into the browser's core.

The potential acquisition of Chrome by an AI-focused company like Perplexity could significantly alter the landscape of internet browsing and search. Integrating advanced AI capabilities directly into a widely used browser could enhance user experience but also raises concerns about data privacy and the concentration of technological power. Moreover, the divestiture of Chrome from Google could reshape the competitive dynamics of the search engine market, potentially fostering greater innovation and competition.

As the situation develops, industry observers will be closely watching how Google's appeal progresses and whether regulatory pressures will lead to the divestiture of Chrome. The outcome could have far-reaching implications for the tech industry and market competition.