San Francisco — In a bold move that could shake up the internet browser market, Perplexity AI has offered Google $34.5 billion to acquire its widely used Chrome browser. The proposal comes as Google faces the possibility of being forced to sell Chrome due to ongoing U.S. antitrust proceedings.
The offer, outlined in a letter of intent seen by AFP, comes from Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, who said the deal would serve “the highest public interest” by placing Chrome in the hands of an independent operator committed to openness, consumer protection, and product continuity.
Perplexity’s bid is significant — nearly double the San Francisco-based AI startup’s own valuation of $18 billion from a recent funding round. Still, industry analysts have already cast doubt on the seriousness of the offer.
The move follows a landmark ruling last year in which U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta found that Google had illegally maintained a monopoly in online search. Government attorneys are now pressing for strong remedies, including forcing Google to divest Chrome, arguing that the rise of AI could make Google’s dominance even more entrenched.
Google, however, strongly opposes the idea, insisting that such a divestment would harm innovation, diminish product quality, and have global consequences. The company’s legal team points out that over 80% of Chrome’s users are outside the U.S., meaning any breakup would disrupt a worldwide user base.
“Any divested Chrome would be a shadow of the current Chrome,” Google attorney John Schmidtlein argued in court, warning that no one would be better off if such a split occurred.
Analysts at Baird Equity Research suggested that Perplexity’s proposal may be less about genuinely acquiring Chrome and more about influencing the pending court decision or prompting other bidders to step in. Given that Perplexity already offers its own browser, the company could stand to benefit if Chrome were no longer tied to Google.
Critics of the divestment plan — including Jennifer Huddleston, a senior fellow in technology policy at the Cato Institute — warn that breaking up Chrome or banning default search agreements could stifle competition instead of encouraging it.
The final decision now rests with Judge Mehta, who is expected to rule by the end of the month. Meanwhile, the debate comes at a time when AI-driven rivals like Microsoft, OpenAI’s ChatGPT, and Perplexity are redefining how people search for and consume information online.
Google, for its part, continues to pour resources into integrating artificial intelligence across its services, including search, as it fights to maintain its position in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.
