AI Startup Perplexity Offers $34.5 Billion to Buy Google’s Chrome Browser
San Francisco, August 12, 2025 – In a bold and surprising move, AI startup Perplexity has extended an unsolicited offer of $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s widely used Chrome browser. The offer, confirmed by multiple sources including Axios and The Wall Street Journal, comes amid mounting antitrust scrutiny against Google that could force the company to divest Chrome as a remedy for monopolistic practices.
Perplexity, valued recently at about $18 billion, is proposing nearly twice its valuation to buy the browser, underscoring the strategic importance of Chrome in the evolving internet ecosystem. The company has positioned this bid as more than a business deal – it calls the proposed acquisition an “asset sale tailored to satisfy remedy requirements” stemming from the ongoing federal antitrust case against Google [1][3].
Background: Antitrust Case and Potential Divestiture
The U.S. Department of Justice and other regulators have long challenged Google for what they describe as monopolistic control over online search and related platforms. In 2024, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google had illegally maintained dominance through anticompetitive contracts that locked in default search settings across devices and browsers, including Chrome, which dominates global browser usage with a market share exceeding 60% [2][3].
As part of the remedy deliberations expected later this month, one possible requirement is that Google divest the Chrome browser to increase competition in search and browsing markets. Perplexity’s bid to acquire Chrome anticipates this scenario and aims to be the “capable, independent operator” best suited to steward the browser’s future [1][2].
Perplexity’s Offer and Strategic Motives
Perplexity’s offer includes commitments to maintain “uninterrupted availability and support for existing customers for at least 100 months post-close” and to “always allow users to choose their own default settings,” signaling respect for user choice and stability [1]. In addition, Perplexity pledges to invest $3 billion over two years to develop and expand Chrome, potentially bringing AI-native improvements to this key internet gateway.
The $34.5 billion offer notably exceeds Perplexity’s startup valuation, fueled in part by venture capital backing. Though the company did not publicly name investors supporting the bid, it assured that several major VC funds have agreed to fully finance the acquisition [1]. However, some reports indicate a lack of direct conversations between Perplexity and its investors about this specific transaction, adding a layer of uncertainty to the offer’s financial underpinning [1].
Perplexity recently launched Comet, an AI-driven web browser built on Chromium, positioning itself as a direct challenger to Google Chrome. This acquisition bid can be seen as a high-profile tactical play to disrupt the browser market and elevate Perplexity’s profile in the AI and search industries [1][3].
Industry Reactions and Potential Competitors
The potential breakup of Google’s browser empire has stirred interest across the tech landscape. Notably, OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, has been rumored to eye Chrome as a prized asset should it come up for sale. During the antitrust trial, OpenAI executives expressed interest in such an acquisition, and the company is reportedly developing its own browser as well [3].
Google itself has not responded to Perplexity’s offer publicly and has shown no indication of willingly selling Chrome, although the impending judicial decision could change this dynamic dramatically [3]. Industry stakeholders are closely watching as the court’s remedy could reshape browser and search markets worldwide.
Implications for the Tech Industry
A forced divestiture of Chrome could open the door for emergent companies like Perplexity to revolutionize how consumers access the web, potentially integrating advanced AI features deeply into browsers. This follows a broader trend of increased regulatory intervention aimed at curbing the dominance of Big Tech and fostering competition [2][4].
Perplexity’s aggressive bid, combining its AI capabilities with a proven open-source browser base, could catalyze innovation in browser technologies and search experiences if the deal or similar remedies come to fruition.
Author’s Note: This article synthesizes recent announcements, court rulings, and industry analysis regarding Perplexity’s $34.5 billion bid for Google Chrome and its broader implications amid regulatory actions targeting Google’s market power.