AI Startup Perplexity Makes a Bold $34.5B Bid for Google’s Chrome Browser
Perplexity AI, a rising star in the AI startup scene, has made a daring move by placing an unsolicited all-cash offer of $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s Chrome browser. This surprising bid, made on August 12, 2025, could potentially redefine the landscape of browser and search technology. The timing of this offer is particularly noteworthy as it coincides with the US Department of Justice’s efforts to compel Google to divest Chrome. This follows an antitrust ruling that declared Google’s search monopoly illegal.
The proposed amount is nearly double the $18 billion valuation of Perplexity itself. CEO Aravind Srinivas has confidently stated that several investment funds have pledged their full support for this transaction. Perplexity has also committed to investing $3 billion over the next two years in Chrome’s development, retaining Google as the default search engine, and preserving the open-source nature of the Chromium codebase.
With its user base exceeding 3 billion globally and controlling roughly 68% of the browser market, Chrome is a crucial portal for search traffic and user data. For Perplexity, the acquisition of Chrome would mean an immediate distribution channel for its AI-powered search technology. This would position it to compete more effectively with rivals like OpenAI, which is also in the process of developing its own AI browser.
Despite analysts valuing Chrome at potentially $50 billion or higher, the acquisition faces significant challenges. Google has not expressed any intention to sell the browser and plans to appeal the antitrust ruling.
Source: CNBC