In a surprising move, Perplexity AI announced on Tuesday that it has submitted an unsolicited $34.5 billion all-cash offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser. The proposal comes as Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., faces intense federal antitrust litigation that could ultimately force it to divest the world’s most popular browser.
Perplexity’s ambitious bid far exceeds its own $18 billion valuation. According to a Wall Street Journal report, the company has already secured commitments from several major investors, including prominent venture-capital firms, who have agreed to fully finance the acquisition. Perplexity said the bid aims to address antitrust concerns in the best public interest by putting Chrome in the hands of a skilled, independent operator.”
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Despite growing interest from potential buyers such as OpenAI and DuckDuckGo, Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai has consistently pushed back against suggestions to sell Chrome. Alphabet has not offered Chrome for sale and plans to challenge a U.S. court ruling from last year that found it held an unlawful monopoly in online search. This ruling cited multibillion-dollar agreements that made Google Search the default option on popular web browsers and mobile devices, including those made by Apple and Samsung. The U.S. Justice Department has pushed for Chrome’s divestiture as part of the case’s remedies, with a judge expected to issue a decision later this month.
Industry experts remain skeptical about Perplexity’s chances. Futurum Group CEO Daniel Newman stated bluntly that there is “0% chance Google spins Chrome to Perplexity.” Similarly, Alex Reinauer, a research fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, suggested the bid was more about exploiting heightened antitrust scrutiny than signaling a realistic market opportunity.
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Nevertheless, the interest in Chrome underscores the renewed importance of web browsers as gateways to search traffic and user data. This is particularly relevant as a growing wave of AI-powered tools such as ChatGPT and Perplexity itself reshape how users seek information.
Perplexity recently launched its AI-driven browser, Comet, which integrates generative AI features to enhance the browsing experience. Acquiring Chrome, the company argues, would allow it to compete more effectively against industry giants like OpenAI. This is not Perplexity’s first high-profile move; earlier this year, it made headlines with a proposal to merge with TikTok U.S. in an attempt to address concerns over the app’s Chinese ownership.
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