News

AI Startup Perplexity Bids $34.5 Billion for Google Chrome Amid Antitrust Case

• By John K. Waters
• 08/12/2025

Artificial intelligence search company Perplexity has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion offer to acquire Google's Chrome browser, positioning itself as a potential solution to ongoing antitrust concerns surrounding the search giant's market dominance.

The bid comes as U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta prepares to rule on remedies following his 2024 decision that Google illegally monopolized the search market. The Justice Department has recommended forcing Google to divest Chrome as one of its primary antitrust remedies.

Perplexity, valued at approximately $18 billion, would need external backing to complete a transaction worth nearly double its own valuation. Company representatives confirmed that several investors, including major venture capital firms, have agreed to support the potential acquisition.

The startup framed its offer as serving the public interest by placing Chrome under independent ownership while maintaining the browser's current functionality. Under the proposed arrangement, Google would remain Chrome's default search engine, though users would retain the ability to switch providers.

Chrome commands more than 60 percent of global browser usage with approximately 3.5 billion users worldwide. The browser serves as a critical gateway to Google's search engine and generates valuable user data that supports the company's $2 trillion advertising business.

Industry estimates for Chrome's value range widely. DuckDuckGo CEO Gabriel Weinberg recently suggested the browser could be worth upwards of $50 billion, while some analysts offer more conservative valuations around $20 billion. Perplexity's bid falls within this spectrum.

Founded in 2022, Perplexity has rapidly evolved from an unknown startup to a prominent AI search competitor, generating roughly $150 million in annual revenue with 30 million monthly active users. The company's search engine uses AI models to provide direct answers with source citations, challenging traditional search engines and AI assistants.

Perplexity recently launched its own web browser called Comet, which incorporates AI capabilities for summarizing web pages, managing tabs, and automating routine tasks. The browser combines local processing for privacy-sensitive operations with cloud-based AI models for complex queries.

Google has consistently opposed any forced sale of Chrome, arguing that divestiture would harm innovation, threaten user privacy and cybersecurity, and damage complementary services. The company has instead proposed narrower remedies, including modifications to exclusive agreements with partners like Apple and Mozilla.

The antitrust case against Google began in 2020, focusing on allegations that the company unlawfully suppressed competition through exclusive default search agreements with device manufacturers and browser developers. The ruling found Google maintained its search monopoly through anticompetitive tactics.

Perplexity's aggressive bid reflects the growing ambitions of AI startups seeking to challenge established technology giants. The company has attracted significant investment from Nvidia, SoftBank, and Jeff Bezos, while reportedly drawing acquisition interest from Apple and Meta.

The timing of Perplexity's offer coincides with broader industry shifts as AI companies expand beyond their core products into web infrastructure. OpenAI is also reportedly developing its own web browser, signaling increased competition in the browser market.

Any potential sale would require court approval and face significant regulatory scrutiny. Google's parent company, Alphabet, valued at nearly $2.5 trillion, has indicated it will appeal the antitrust ruling and resist structural remedies.

The case marks a crucial moment for both internet search competition and the broader AI industry's challenge to established technology platforms. Judge Mehta's upcoming decision on remedies could transform how users access information online and set important precedents for regulating dominant technology companies in the AI era.