AI startup Perplexity has made a bold unsolicited all-cash offer for Alphabet’s Chrome browser worth $34.5 billion, surpassing its own valuation of $14 billion. The bid is part of the growing competition in the AI search space, as other companies including OpenAI and Yahoo have expressed interest in acquiring the popular browser.
Perplexity’s CEO Aravind Srinivas has made similar offers in the past, most notably a proposal to merge with TikTok US in January. The company plans to fund the acquisition using various financial backers, although it did not disclose their names.
If successful, Perplexity’s bid would give it access to over 3 billion users of Chrome, a significant advantage in competing with rival companies like OpenAI, which is also developing its own AI browser. The offer includes preserving the open-source Chromium code, investing $3 billion over two years, and maintaining the default search engine.
However, analysts predict that Google would be unlikely to sell Chrome due to its crucial role in the company’s AI ambitions. A federal judge is expected to rule on the case soon, which could lead to a lengthy legal battle if Google appeals.
Perplexity’s bid is seen as an attempt to bolster its position in the AI search space, where user data and search traffic are increasingly important gateways for Big Tech companies.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/media-telecom/ai-startup-perplexity-makes-bold-345-billion-bid-googles-chrome-browser-2025-08-12