AI startup Perplexity AI, led by Aravind Srinivas, has made a $34.5 billion unsolicited all-cash offer to acquire Alphabet’s Chrome browser, far surpassing its valuation of $14 billion. Founded just three years ago, the company has raised about $1 billion from investors, including Nvidia and SoftBank. Perplexity already operates its own AI browser, Comet, and acquiring Chrome would give it access to over three billion users, significantly strengthening its position in the AI search market. The bid comes as browsers regain importance as gateways for search traffic and user data, a space increasingly contested by firms like OpenAI and Yahoo. Perplexity pledged to keep Chrome’s code open source, invest $3 billion over two years, and maintain Google Search as the browser’s default engine.
The offer arrives amid regulatory pressure on Google after a U.S. court ruling found the company held an unlawful monopoly in online search. The Justice Department has sought Chrome’s divestiture as a possible remedy, though Google has indicated plans to appeal. Legal experts note that any forced sale could take years, with appeals potentially reaching the Supreme Court. Analysts believe Google is unlikely to sell Chrome, which remains central to its AI-driven search initiatives. Rival search engine DuckDuckGo's CEO, Gabriel Weinberg, has suggested Chrome could command at least $50 billion if ever put on the market.
