Perplexity AI Makes $34.5 Billion Offer for Google Chrome Amid Antitrust Pressure

In a move that has stunned the tech world, Perplexity AI has made an all-cash offer of $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s Chrome browser. The bid, revealed by CEO Aravind Srinivas, comes as Google faces increasing antitrust scrutiny in the United States, with regulators exploring remedies that could force the company to divest Chrome.

Perplexity, currently valued at around $18 billion, has pledged to keep Chromium open-source, invest $3 billion into development over the next two years, and retain Google as Chrome’s default search engine. Analysts say this proposal strategically positions Perplexity as a viable buyer should a court-mandated sale occur.

While the chances of Google accepting the offer remain slim, the timing has fueled speculation about Perplexity’s long-term ambitions in the browser and search market. The move also aligns with its push to expand Comet, its AI-powered browser assistant, as a direct competitor in the space.

Industry watchers see the proposal as both a genuine business opportunity and a savvy marketing move to increase Perplexity’s visibility during a period of intense focus on Big Tech regulation.