Perplexity’s Audacious Play: A $34.5 Billion Bid for Google Chrome

AI startup Perplexity has made a stunning, unsolicited bid of $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s Chrome browser. This aggressive move comes at a crucial time for Google, as it faces potential court-ordered remedies in a U.S. antitrust lawsuit that could include the forced sale of Chrome. Perplexity aims to get ahead of this potential forced transition.
The bid positions Perplexity in direct competition with rival startup OpenAI, which has also shown interest in the browser. While questions have been raised about how the startup could afford the deal, given its recent $18 billion valuation, the company’s Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, has stated that “multiple large investment funds have agreed to finance the transaction in full,” addressing the financial concerns head-on.
To address potential user and regulatory concerns, Perplexity has pledged a “commitment to continuity,” promising not to make any “stealth modifications” to the browser. The offer also deliberately excludes any equity in Perplexity, a move designed to mitigate any antitrust issues related to the deal itself. Google has not yet commented on the offer.
This acquisition is a key part of Perplexity’s broader strategy. The company is no stranger to seeking out major online properties facing regulatory pressure, having previously made an offer to merge with TikTok’s U.S. operations. For AI companies, web browsers are becoming increasingly valuable as they serve as a platform for deploying AI agents that can perform tasks like online shopping. If the deal is approved, Perplexity has promised a significant investment of $3 billion over two years into Chrome and Chromium and to retain a substantial portion of its existing team.