In a new twist in Google’s ongoing antitrust trial, Perplexity AI has expressed interest in acquiring Google Chrome if the court orders the company to sell it.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused Google of maintaining a monopoly in the online search market, partly through its agreements to make Google the default search engine on many devices.
During the trial, Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, testified that his company could handle Chrome if needed. He believes Perplexity could maintain Chrome’s quality and keep it open-source.
However, Shevelenko also raised concerns about the possibility of Chrome being sold to other companies like OpenAI, which could change the browser’s open-source model.
The DOJ has suggested that Google might need to sell Chrome as part of the solution to the antitrust case. Perplexity’s statement shows that the company is ready to step in if that happens, highlighting its plans to grow in the AI space.
As the trial continues, the court’s decision could have major effects on Google’s business and change how people use browsers and search engines online.
