Perplexity AI, a startup within the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, made a surprise $34.5 billion offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser. The bid was made amidst Google facing antitrust scrutiny from U.S. regulators. In the bid letter, Perplexity made a personal appeal to Google’s CEO to accept the offer.
Perplexity offered Google that it would continue to be the default search engine in Chrome. It promised to continue to allow developers using the Chromium open-source code. Perplexity promised to spend $3 billion over two years on Chrome and Chromium. Perplexity indicated that its investors had fully committed to an all-cash deal.
Perplexity is estimated to have a valuation between $14 billion and $18 billion, as of mid-2025. The bid nearly doubles this valuation, despite skepticism about Chrome and the ability to finance the purchase. Analysts have set the value of Chrome between $50 billion and many hundreds of billions. Expert commentators even criticized the proposal price as below the importance of Chrome.
U.S. courts are hearing the antitrust case to force Google to divest Chrome. The Department of Justice even put a proposal for conduct remedies on the table to restore competition online. Perplexity appears to be a willing buyer and to align itself with the increasing U.S. regulatory aims. Perplexity indicated they wanted to increase user choice and maintain the continuity of Chrome.
Google has yet to make a public statement on the offer. Some observers think Google will resist selling Chrome to any extent since it fit so well within its strategy. They expect Google to appeal and see if there are other avenues available to them, rather than a forced sale. The appeals and court deliberations could prolong the process for another couple of years.
Perplexity has already launched its own AI browser automobile, Comet in July 2025. Comet incorporates AI agents for assisted shopping and web search. Earlier in the year the startup had even discussed merging with TikTok US. The boldness of these approaches shows Perplexity’s significant expansion strategy.
Perplexity AI has shocked the startup world by offering $34.5 billion to Google for Chrome.
The offer, made against a backdrop of greater antitrust scrutiny and changing boundaries of power in AI search, to be seen whether/what Google would accept, delay, or fight. But the offer is indicative of greater competition and disruption in the browser space.
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