Browser extensions are supposed to make life easier, but some can come with serious privacy risks. Microsoft’s security researchers recently discovered a sneaky Chrome extension pretending to be the popular AI search engine Perplexity AI. Instead of helping users, it was secretly monitoring search activity and redirecting it through attacker-controlled servers.

The extension, called “Search for perplexity ai”, looked pretty harmless on the Chrome Web Store. But behind the scenes, it was doing some shady stuff. Microsoft Threat Intelligence broke down the details in a blog post on June 30, and Google quickly pulled it from the store. Still, if you installed it, it’s not gone until you remove it yourself.

How the fake extension worked

The extension asked for broad permissions that went way beyond what a normal search helper needs. It used “chrome_settings_overrides” to take over your default search engine, so every time you typed something in the address bar, it first sent the query to a fake domain, “perplexity-ai.online”, before eventually passing it on to real search results.

It also used “declarativeNetRequest” permissions to monitor and modify network traffic. This gave it the ability to log your searches and even see real-time typing suggestions. There’s no sign it stole passwords or login info, but it could easily build up a detailed picture of your interests and online habits.

For reference, the real Perplexity AI lives at perplexity.ai. Always double-check the domain and the developer before installing anything, especially AI-related tools that are trending right now.

If you have the extension, remove it right away. Here’s the quick way:

1. Open Chrome and go to chrome://extensions/
2. Turn on Developer mode (top right corner)
3. Find the extension with the ID “flkebkiofojicogddingbdmcmkpbplcd” and click Remove
4. While you’re there, check your default search engine settings and reset them if needed

This whole episode is a good reminder that the Chrome Web Store isn’t perfect. Even with review processes, scammers are getting better at impersonating popular services. Microsoft suggests regularly reviewing your extensions, being picky about permissions, and sticking to well-known developers when possible.

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AI chatbots have become subscription services much like music and video streaming platforms. Each company now has different pricing tiers designed to attract casual users, professionals, and enterprises. Here is a detailed look at the major players and what they offer.

ChatGPT (by OpenAI)

OpenAI continues to lead the market with ChatGPT. The free plan gives users access to GPT-5 with usage limits, enough for simple queries and casual use.

The ChatGPT Plus plan costs $20 per month globally or ₹1,999 in India. It unlocks unlimited use of GPT-5 and GPT-4o, advanced tools such as web browsing, data analysis, and image generation, as well as custom GPT creation. Plus subscribers also receive early access to new features.

The ChatGPT Pro tier, priced at about $200 per month or ₹19,900 in India, is aimed at heavier workloads. It increases usage capacity, adds customization, and provides enterprise-grade security.

OpenAI also introduced ChatGPT Go in select regions like India at ₹399 per month. It delivers GPT-5 access with higher limits than the free tier but does not include advanced features such as Sora video generation.

At the enterprise level, ChatGPT Enterprise offers unlimited GPT-5 and GPT-4o access with no usage caps, extended context windows, SOC 2-compliant security, and admin tools. Pricing is custom-based on business needs.

Gemini (by Google)

Google’s Gemini is closely tied to its ecosystem. The free tier allows access to Gemini 2.5 Flash and Gemini 2.5 Pro for basic conversations.

The main paid plan is Gemini Advanced, part of the Google One AI Premium subscription priced at $19.99 per month. This plan includes 2TB of cloud storage and unlocks Gemini 2.5 Pro with higher limits, a 1 million–token context window, file analysis features, and video generation powered by Veo 3.

Gemini Ultra is available at $249.99 per month for users who want the most powerful access, including experimental features and video generation with sound.

For enterprises, Google provides Gemini access through Google Cloud with custom pricing and token-based API billing.

Microsoft Copilot

Microsoft integrates Copilot across Windows, Office, and mobile apps. The free version provides basic assistance.

Copilot Pro, priced at $20 per month, adds priority access to OpenAI’s latest models, faster image creation with Microsoft Designer, and direct integration with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. A Microsoft 365 subscription is required for Office features.

Copilot for Microsoft 365 costs $30 per user per month and extends Copilot into the full Microsoft suite with enterprise-grade security.

Perplexity

Perplexity positions itself as an AI-powered search engine. The free tier gives limited Pro Searches each day.

Perplexity Pro costs $20 per month or $200 annually. Subscribers receive over 300 Pro Searches daily, access to GPT-5 and Claude, unlimited file uploads, and image generation.

The Enterprise Pro plan costs $40 per user per month and adds private knowledge hubs, administrative controls, and strict privacy protections.

Claude (by Anthropic)

Claude is popular for long-form writing and research tasks. The free plan offers basic access to the AI.

Claude Pro costs $20 per month and expands usage limits, giving access to Claude Sonnet 4 and extended conversations.

Claude Max starts at $100 per month and provides much higher usage, larger output capacity, and early access to new features.

API pricing ranges from $0.25 per 1M tokens for Claude Haiku to $75 per 1M output tokens for Claude Opus.

Grok (by xAI)

Grok, developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, is integrated into the X platform. There is no free version. Access is bundled with X Premium+ at $16 per month.

The chatbot delivers real-time answers based on X’s live feed and uses a witty, sarcastic style. It is less about productivity and more about social interaction.

Jasper

Jasper is built for content marketing rather than general conversation. There is no free plan.

The Creator plan costs $49 per month, while the Pro plan is priced at $69 per month. Enterprise users can negotiate custom pricing under the Business plan.

Jasper includes more than 50 templates for content creation, SEO optimization, and integrations with marketing platforms.

Poe (by Quora)

Poe acts as a central hub for AI chatbots from multiple providers. The free plan provides limited access to bots like GPT-5, Claude Opus 4.1, and DeepSeek-R1.

Poe Pro, at $19.99 per month, removes most restrictions and allows unlimited use of premium models such as GPT-5 and Claude Sonnet.

DeepSeek

DeepSeek has gained recognition for its reasoning and coding performance. The chatbot is free for consumers.

Developers can use its API with extremely low pricing. The deepseek-chat model costs $0.27 per 1M input tokens and $1.10 per 1M output tokens, making it one of the most affordable large-scale AI solutions.

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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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(Source)

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Apple is reportedly exploring the possibility of acquiring Perplexity AI, a fast-rising player in AI-powered search, as part of a broader push to strengthen its artificial intelligence capabilities. If the deal moves forward, it could mark Apple’s biggest acquisition yet — and signal a major shift in how the company approaches search and voice assistants.

According to a Bloomberg report published on June 20, senior Apple executives, including Apple’s head of mergers and acquisitions, Adrian Perica, and services chief Eddy Cue, have held early-stage discussions internally about a potential deal. Perplexity told Reuters that it had “no knowledge” of any such talks — suggesting nothing formal has been presented to its leadership so far.

Still, the timing is notable. Apple has been working to embed more AI-driven features into Safari and may be looking for ways to reduce its reliance on Google.

Perplexity has gained popularity for its real-time, conversational search results — offering a more direct, chatbot-style experience similar to ChatGPT and Google Gemini. It’s seen by some as an early threat to the traditional search engine model.

Earlier this year, Meta also reportedly tried to buy Perplexity, but failed. The company later shifted its focus to a $14.8 billion investment in Scale AI. Now, it seems Apple could be stepping in, potentially not just for the tech, but for Perplexity’s growing talent pool — something Apple may benefit from as it looks to improve Siri.

There’s also a competitive angle. Samsung is reportedly in talks to integrate Perplexity’s search tools into its upcoming Galaxy S26 lineup. If Apple were to secure a deal, it could cut off that opportunity and gain an edge in the AI race.

A successful $14 billion deal would easily surpass Apple’s largest purchase to date — its $3 billion acquisition of Beats in 2014. Whether this leads to a smarter Siri, a more independent Safari, or a new way to search on iPhones, one thing is clear: Apple is getting serious about AI.

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(Source: Reuters, Bloomberg)

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Perplexity AI is doubling down on the future of AI-driven research with the launch of its new “Deep Research” tool, aiming to provide users with expert-level insights in record time. The company, founded by former OpenAI researcher Aravind Srinivas, has quickly become a formidable player in the AI space, backed by industry heavyweights like Jeff Bezos and Nvidia. Now, it’s taking direct aim at OpenAI’s high-priced research agent with a freemium alternative that prioritizes accessibility and speed.

Perplexity AI’s Deep Research offers expert-level analysis in minutes

Unlike OpenAI’s Deep Research, which is locked behind a hefty $200 monthly subscription, Perplexity is making its tool available for free, albeit with some usage limitations. Pro users, who pay $20 per month, get up to 500 deep research queries per day. The AI-powered assistant, currently available on the web, is set to roll out soon on iOS, Android, and Mac, making in-depth research just a few taps away.

At its core, Deep Research is designed to mimic how a human might approach a complex topic—iteratively searching, reading, and refining its understanding before compiling a polished, citation-backed report. It works across a broad range of subjects, from finance and marketing to health and product research. More impressively, it delivers results in under three minutes, a stark contrast to OpenAI’s offering, which can take anywhere from five to 30 minutes to generate similar reports.

Performance-wise, Perplexity’s Deep Research tool scored 21.1% on “Humanity’s Last Exam,” an AI benchmark for expert-level analysis. That places it ahead of models like Gemini Thinking (6.2%) and GPT-4o (3.3%), though it still falls short of OpenAI’s 26.6% score.

Despite its technological advancements, Perplexity is navigating growing legal scrutiny. The company has faced lawsuits from major media organizations over claims of unauthorized content use. To counter this, it has started partnering with publishers like Time and Fortune to develop revenue-sharing agreements.

With AI research tools rapidly evolving, Perplexity’s bet on speed, affordability, and accessibility could make it a compelling alternative for users unwilling to shell out big bucks for enterprise-grade AI solutions.

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