In one of the boldest tech moves of the year, Perplexity AI has reportedly made a $34.5 billion all-cash offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser — a deal that could seriously change the web browser market.
A high-stakes bid under antitrust pressure
The San Francisco–based startup is valued at $18 billion and has a track record of ambitious plays — including a failed attempt earlier this year to acquire TikTok’s US operations. Perplexity plans to fully fund the Chrome purchase through backing from unnamed venture capital firms, despite having raised “only” $1 billion itself.
The timing is key: the US Department of Justice has been pushing for Google to divest Chrome following a 2024 ruling that found its search business in violation of antitrust laws. A federal judge is expected to rule on possible remedies this month, and other potential suitors — including OpenAI, Yahoo, and Apollo Global Management — are reportedly interested.
Chrome’s roughly three billion users make it a highly strategic asset. Perplexity recently launched its own AI-focused Comet browser, and owning Chrome could give it a huge advantage in competing with OpenAI, which is working on its own AI-powered browser.
The company says it would keep Chromium’s code open-source, invest $3 billion over the next two years to develop Chrome, and — interestingly — retain Google as the default search engine, a move likely aimed at calming regulatory concerns.
Google, for its part, has no plans to sell Chrome and is appealing the antitrust ruling, arguing that a forced divestiture could harm its broader business. With over 50% share of the US browser market, Chrome remains the dominant player, meaning the court’s decision could have major implications for the entire industry.
Whether or not the bid goes anywhere, Perplexity’s offer underscores how aggressively AI companies are moving to challenge tech’s biggest names.
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