AI-powered answer engine Perplexity AI has made a move that has created a stir in the tech world. The company has submitted an official $34.5 billion offer to purchase Chrome, one of Google’s most popular products. This figure is notable for being almost twice Perplexity’s current market value. The surprise nature of the bid — made without any prior negotiations — has generated significant buzz in the tech press.
Details of Perplexity AI’s $34.5 Billion Offer for Google’s Chrome Browser
Perplexity stated that, if the offer is accepted, it plans to invest $3 billion over the next two years into Chrome and the open-source Chromium project. The company emphasizes that this investment would lead to significant improvements in security, speed, and AI integration for the browser.
From a financing standpoint, Perplexity claims to have the backing of multiple major investment funds, ensuring the offer is fully financially supported. However, whether Google will accept the proposal remains uncertain.
Why Now? The Impact of the Antitrust Case
The timing of this offer may be directly related to the U.S. Department of Justice’s ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Google. In the case, there have been suggestions that Google might be forced to sell certain products, such as Chrome or Android, to reduce its market dominance.
Perplexity’s move in this context could be seen as an attempt to seize an opportunity in the event of a “forced sale” scenario. Moreover, some see this as not just a genuine acquisition attempt but also a strategic PR move to elevate Perplexity’s profile in the global tech scene.
Conclusion: Google’s Stance and Future Scenarios
Google has yet to issue an official response to Perplexity’s offer. Given that Chrome is one of the most critical components of the Google ecosystem, many analysts believe the chances of a sale are slim.
Still, the outcome of the antitrust case could shake up the tech industry. If a sale were to happen, it could accelerate AI-driven innovations in the browser market and increase competition.
Whether this is a genuine acquisition attempt or a calculated publicity move, Perplexity AI’s bold step seems set to remain a hot topic in the tech world for a long time.
