AI Startup Perplexity Makes Audacious $34.5B Bid for Google’s Chrome Browser
In a daring attempt to challenge Google’s supremacy in web browsing and AI search, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI has proposed an unsolicited $34.5 billion all-cash offer to purchase Google’s Chrome browser. This unexpected bid surfaces as Google faces increasing regulatory pressure to possibly divest its browser business following antitrust violations.
The proposition is especially audacious given that Perplexity’s valuation stands at a mere $18 billion, making the bid nearly double the company’s own worth. Spearheaded by CEO Aravind Srinivas, Perplexity asserts that it has secured financing from “multiple large investment funds” to fully execute the transaction.
With over 3 billion users worldwide and approximately 70% of the desktop browser market share, Chrome’s acquisition would provide Perplexity with unparalleled access to user data and browsing habits. This could potentially revolutionize the AI search landscape. The company has vowed to uphold Chrome’s open-source Chromium foundation and invest $3 billion over two years without altering the browser’s default search engine.
This aggressive strategy follows similar interest from OpenAI, Yahoo, and Apollo Global Management in Chrome as the Department of Justice persists with its antitrust case against Google. Industry experts estimate Chrome’s actual value at around $50 billion, positioning Perplexity’s bid strategically, albeit potentially insufficient.
Source: Bloomberg