Perplexity AI, a fast-growing artificial intelligence startup, made a bold $34.5 billion all-cash offer to buy Google’s Chrome browser on Tuesday. This surprising bid is more than twice Perplexity’s own valuation, showing how important the company believes Chrome is in the race for AI-powered search.
Chrome is one of the world’s most popular web browsers, with over three billion users. Owning it would give Perplexity access to a huge audience, helping it compete with bigger AI companies like OpenAI.
Perplexity, led by Aravind Srinivas, has made headlines before with high-profile offers, including an attempt to merge with TikTok’s US operations earlier this year. The startup has raised about $1 billion in funding so far, with investors like Nvidia and SoftBank backing it.
The company promises to keep Chrome’s core code, called Chromium, open source and invest $3 billion over two years to improve the browser. It also says it will not change Chrome’s default search engine, aiming to ease concerns about competition.
Google has not responded to the offer. The tech giant currently faces legal pressure over its search business, with a court ruling last year finding that Google holds an unlawful monopoly. The US Department of Justice wants Google to sell Chrome as part of the legal remedies, but Google plans to fight the order.
Experts say Google is unlikely to sell Chrome anytime soon. The legal battle could take years, as appeals move through courts. Meanwhile, Perplexity already offers its own AI browser called Comet, but acquiring Chrome would give it a massive boost.
With AI search becoming more important, web browsers like Chrome are now key battlegrounds for the biggest tech companies.
