Artificial Intelligence company Perplexity presents a staggering $34.5 billion offer for Google's Chrome browser asset
Perplexity Makes Unsolicited Bid for Google's Chrome Browser
San Francisco-based AI startup Perplexity, valued at approximately $18 billion, has made an unexpected $34.5 billion offer to acquire Google's Chrome browser. The bid, sent to Alphabet Inc.'s Google on Tuesday, comes just days before a federal judge is expected to issue remedies in a landmark antitrust case targeting Google's search dominance.
The offer is aimed at getting ahead of a possible U.S. antitrust requirement for Google to divest the web browser. Perplexity has pledged to commit $3 billion over two years to develop Chrome and its open-source Chromium base, emphasising continuity for users and advertisers, stating it will not make "stealth modifications" to Chrome.
If the deal goes through, Perplexity plans to extend offers to a "substantial portion" of Chrome's current team. The plans for Chrome include a $3 billion investment in the browser and retaining much of its talent.
The offer coincides with ongoing federal court considerations about forcing Google to divest Chrome after a landmark antitrust ruling. Perplexity's proposal is positioned as a remedy-tailored asset sale and includes promises to maintain Chrome’s availability. However, experts estimate Chrome’s value could be at least $50 billion, making Perplexity's offer comparatively low given the size gap.
The bid is broadly seen as a strategic publicity move rather than a serious acquisition likely to succeed, especially since Google has not indicated willingness to sell Chrome amid its antitrust issues. As of the time of writing, Google has not responded to a request for comment regarding the offer.
The potential implications of this bid, whether genuine or a stunt, include raising Perplexity’s public profile and positioning it as a serious competitor to Google in AI-powered browsing. It also highlights the growing importance of controlling key user access points, like web browsers, in the evolving AI and digital transformation landscape. The offer also draws attention to Perplexity's own AI-powered Comet browser, which offers deeper AI integration than Chrome's current AI features.
Overall, the offer has not resulted in any acquisition or indication that Google will sell Chrome. Instead, it serves to generate significant media coverage and influence the competitive dynamics in AI-driven internet services.
- In the evolving landscape of AI and digital transformation, Perplexity's bid for Google's Chrome browser signals its ambition to become a serious competitor in the industry, particularly in AI-powered browsing, using its AI-integrated Comet browser.
- If successful, Perplexity's acquisition of Google's Chrome browser would not only represent a significant shift in the finance and business sectors but also underscore the importance of technology in shaping the future of user access points like web browsers.
