Perplexity offers 34.5 billion dollars to acquire Google Chrome

The artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI has surprised the tech sector by presenting an unsolicited offer of 34.5 billion dollars to acquire the Google Chrome browser, currently owned by Alphabet. The proposal comes at a time when Google is facing strong judicial and regulatory pressures in the United States, after being found guilty in 2024 of maintaining an illegal monopoly in the web search market. As part of the corrective measures, the Department of Justice has suggested the possible sale of Chrome, opening the door for third parties, such as Perplexity or even OpenAI, to attempt to acquire this strategic product.

According to available information, Perplexity is offering an “all-cash” payment backed by investors who are said to have already committed the financing, although their names have not been disclosed. In its management plan, the company states that it will invest 3 billion dollars over the next two years in improving Chrome and Chromium, with the aim of strengthening security, stability, performance, and user experience. In addition, it promises to maintain Chromium as an open-source project, respect users’ freedom in choosing their search engine, and avoid any stealthy changes to the browser’s settings.

Although the proposed amount far exceeds Chrome’s estimated valuation, which is around 18 billion dollars, the company argues that the browser represents a key gateway to the internet and a strategic asset for the future of artificial intelligence. However, the deal faces significant obstacles: Google has so far shown no intention of selling and would likely only do so under a court order, while regulators will need to assess whether the acquisition truly benefits competition and consumers.

Perplexity’s initiative marks a bold move and opens a debate on the future of Chrome, the impact of antitrust regulations, and the growing role of AI startups in shaping global access to the internet.