Perplexity’s Bid for Chrome: A Calculated Risk to Acquire a Browser Empire

In a calculated move, AI startup Perplexity has offered $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s Chrome browser. The timing of the bid is no coincidence; it comes as Google faces potential court-ordered remedies in U.S. antitrust proceedings, which could include the forced sale of Chrome.
Perplexity’s bid is a strategic effort to get ahead of a potential forced transition and secure a vital piece of internet infrastructure. The offer puts Perplexity in direct competition with rival OpenAI, which has also shown interest in the browser. Despite questions about its ability to finance such a massive deal, Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, stated that the company has secured full financing from “multiple large investment funds.”
To assuage user fears and regulatory concerns, Perplexity has promised to maintain the browser’s continuity and not make any “stealth modifications.” The offer also deliberately excludes any equity in Perplexity, a move designed to mitigate antitrust issues related to the deal. Google has not yet commented on the unsolicited bid.
This move underscores the growing importance of web browsers for AI companies, as they seek to build agents that can perform tasks for users. Perplexity has a history of pursuing major online properties facing regulatory pressure, having previously bid to merge with TikTok’s U.S. operations. If the deal is approved, Perplexity has pledged to invest $3 billion over two years in Chrome and Chromium and to extend offers to a “substantial portion” of Chrome’s talent.