In one of the most audacious moves in tech history, AI search engine Perplexity has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion cash offer to acquire Google Chrome, the world’s most popular web browser. The bid, first reported by Reuters and confirmed to TechCrunch, comes as Google faces mounting antitrust pressure in the United States.
The Offer: A Moonshot Bid
Perplexity says its proposal includes:
- Keeping Chromium, Chrome’s underlying engine, open source.
- Investing $3 billion into Chromium’s development.
- Preserving Google as the default search engine for Chrome users, instead of replacing it with Perplexity’s own AI-powered search.
The AI startup stressed that the offer isn’t about disrupting user experience but about ensuring Chrome’s stability, neutrality, and continued innovation.
Google has not yet commented on the bid.
The timing is no accident. Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) proposed that Google be forced to divest Chrome after a federal judge ruled that the tech giant illegally maintained a monopoly in online search. Google has vowed to fight the ruling, but analysts believe a decision on remedies could come as early as this month.
The DOJ is also pursuing a separate case alleging Google illegally monopolized adtech, which could force the company to divest two of its core advertising products.
Chrome’s Market Power
Chrome dominates the browser market, holding 68% global market share according to Statcounter. Analysts say whoever gains control of Chrome would instantly have massive leverage in the online search and advertising ecosystem.
In April, the CEO of DuckDuckGo testified in court that Chrome could be worth up to $50 billion — suggesting Perplexity’s $34.5B bid, if accepted, would be a bargain.
That’s the big question. Perplexity has raised only $1.5 billion to date, including a recent $100 million extension round that valued the startup at $18 billion (Bloomberg). Its offer for Chrome is more than 20 times its current valuation and far beyond the capital it has available.
Industry insiders say if the DOJ forces Google to sell Chrome, bigger players — possibly Microsoft, Amazon, or even Apple — could enter the bidding war.
Perplexity’s Bigger Ambitions
This isn’t Perplexity’s first bold move:
- Last month, the company launched its own browser, Comet, designed to integrate directly with its AI search.
- It also reportedly submitted a merger bid with TikTok, signaling its ambition to take on not just search, but the broader internet ecosystem.
Perplexity argues that owning Chrome would allow it to compete fairly without relying on a browser owned by its main rival, Google.
If regulators move forward with forcing Google to sell Chrome, the bid from Perplexity could spark a global bidding war. For now, industry analysts remain skeptical that the AI startup could secure financing for such a deal without partnerships or major outside investment.
Still, the unsolicited offer underscores just how much pressure Google is under and how aggressively rivals are circling as regulators weigh remedies to its monopolistic practices.
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