Artificial intelligence start-up Perplexity AI has shocked the tech world with an unsolicited $34.5 billion cash offer for Google Chrome. The move is being described by many analysts as a bold statement of intent rather than a straightforward acquisition attempt.
The San Francisco-based company revealed the offer on Tuesday, according to Reuters. Perplexity claims it has secured backing from several major venture capital funds to finance the deal, although the names of these backers were not disclosed.
Google Chrome, launched in 2008, is used by more than three billion people around the globe and remains one of Google’s most important tools for maintaining dominance in online search. The bid comes at a critical moment, just weeks before US District Judge Amit Mehta is expected to outline remedies in a major antitrust case that the Department of Justice won against Google last year.
The DOJ has proposed that Google be forced to divest Chrome in order to restore competition in the search market. Google has pushed back strongly, vowing to appeal and calling the proposed remedies extraordinary and overreaching.
Why Perplexity Wants Chrome
Perplexity, which was valued at $18 billion in its most recent funding round, is one of several AI-driven search challengers aiming to disrupt Google’s dominance. Founded in 2022, the company offers a search engine that provides direct AI-generated answers along with links to original sources. In July, it launched its own browser, Comet, which is built on the same open-source foundation as Chrome.
In its offer, Perplexity pledged to keep the open-source Chromium platform intact, invest $3 billion into Chrome over the next two years, retain most of the existing staff, and even keep Google as the default search engine.
A Statement More Than a Sale
According to Ben Barringer, global tech analyst at Quilter Cheviot, the $34.5 billion bid may be more about making a statement than sealing a purchase. He noted that the offer is widely seen as undervaluing Chrome and could spark a broader discovery process around the browser’s true market value.
Industry experts also point out the growing importance of browsers in the new AI-driven era. As Alon Yamin, co-founder and chief executive of Copyleaks, explained, whoever controls the gateway to the internet has enormous influence over how information is accessed, prioritized, and trusted.
What Happens Next
It remains unclear whether Perplexity’s bid represents a genuine acquisition attempt or simply a calculated show of strength to position itself in the AI search race. Analysts predict that if regulators force Google to sell Chrome, other major players such as OpenAI and Yahoo could also enter the bidding.
However, any forced sale is likely to face years of legal battles as Google appeals. For now, Perplexity has ensured that its name stays front and center in the ongoing battle over the future of search and the power struggle that defines the AI era.
