AI search company Perplexity has submitted an unsolicited $34.5 billion offer to purchase Google’s Chrome browser, a bold move that comes as Google faces anti-trust pressure following last year’s landmark ruling.
The Numbers
- Perplexity’s offer: $34.5 billion (nearly double its own $18 billion valuation)
- Chrome’s estimated value: At least $50 billion
- Google’s market cap: $2.5 trillion
Why Now?: The Department of Justice has proposed forcing Google to sell Chrome as an anti-trust remedy, though Google plans to appeal. Perplexity’s bid positions the AI startup to capitalize on regulatory pressure against Big Tech.
The Bigger Picture: Perplexity launched its own browser “Comet” in July, while OpenAI is reportedly developing one too. The three-year-old startup has also bid for TikTok and been courted by Meta and Apple. While Perplexity’s bid is considered a long shot given Google’s resistance, it signals intensifying competition for web browser dominance in the AI era.
