Perplexity makes $34.5B play for Google Chrome as antitrust ruling looms

AI startup Perplexity has made an audacious $34.5 billion all-cash bid to acquire Google Chrome, a move that could reshape the global browser market — if it ever happens.

The proposal, confirmed by Perplexity and first reported by The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and Reuters, comes just as the U.S. Department of Justice’s antitrust case against Google nears a pivotal decision. Judge Amit P. Mehta is expected to issue remedies in the coming days, which could include forcing the tech giant to divest Chrome in an effort to curb what regulators describe as an “illegal” search monopoly.

While Google has given no indication it would sell Chrome — and may appeal any forced divestiture for years — Perplexity is moving early to stake its claim. The AI search company, valued at roughly $18 billion, is offering nearly twice its own worth, backed by commitments from multiple large investment funds to finance the acquisition in full.

According to a term sheet seen by Reuters, Perplexity’s proposal includes maintaining Chromium as open source, keeping Chrome’s default search engine unchanged, and investing $3 billion into the browser’s development over the next two years. The company also plans to retain a substantial portion of Chrome’s current workforce.

Perplexity has a history of bold acquisition attempts, including a recent bid for TikTok. The Chrome offer comes just a month after the launch of its own AI-powered “Comet” browser, signaling the company’s ambition to expand its footprint in the browsing market.

It’s not alone in eyeing Chrome. Yahoo and OpenAI have also expressed interest should the DOJ mandate a sale. But even if the court orders Google to spin off its browser, the process is expected to be lengthy, with appeals potentially stretching the legal battle into the end of the decade.