Perplexity’s $34.5B Power Play: An AI Startup’s Bid to Take Over Google Chrome
In a move that would have seemed unthinkable a year ago, San Francisco AI upstart Perplexity has lobbed a $34.5 billion offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser, the world’s most-used gateway to the internet.
The bold, unsolicited bid lands amid U.S. antitrust pressure on Google to divest Chrome, potentially dismantling a core pillar of its search dominance. Judge Amit Mehta’s imminent ruling could force the sale, creating a once-in-a-generation opening for competitors.
Perplexity, valued at $18 billion after a $100 million raise earlier this year, plans to bankroll the acquisition through “multiple large investment funds,” according to Chief Business Officer Dmitry Shevelenko. The company declined to name the backers but insists financing is fully secured.
Why Chrome? Why now?
Perplexity has been steadily chipping away at Google’s search market share with AI-driven answers, not traditional search links. Controlling Chrome, and its open-source sibling Chromium, would give the startup an unrivaled distribution channel, instantly placing its AI in front of billions of users worldwide.
This isn’t Perplexity’s first swing at a distressed giant. Earlier this year, it made an offer to merge with TikTok’s U.S. operations as the app faced a potential ban.
AI meets the browser wars
With AI agents poised to transform online behavior, from automated shopping to research, control of the browser is emerging as the next strategic high ground. Perplexity has already been developing its own AI-first browser, Comet, but Chrome’s market share would accelerate that vision by a decade.
Perplexity assures there will be no “stealth modifications” to Chrome post-acquisition, pledging continuity for users and stability for advertisers. The plan includes investing $3 billion over the next two years into Chrome and Chromium, and extending offers to much of Chrome’s existing talent pool.
Whether Google accepts, or is even allowed to refuse, may soon be decided not in a boardroom, but in a courtroom. If Perplexity pulls this off, it won’t just be buying a browser. It’ll be buying the front door to the internet.
