In one of the most eyebrow-raising tech plays of the year, Perplexity AI, a three-year-old AI upstart, lobbed a $34.5 billion all-cash offer to buy Google’s Chrome browser. The Perplexity Chrome acquisition move is audacious, not just for the price tag, but because it aims straight at the beating heart of Google’s dominance in search, ads, and internet access. Chrome, after all, is not just software. For over three billion people, it is the gateway to the web.
Perplexity’s bold bid for Chrome is happening under the looming shadow of the Justice Department’s antitrust scrutiny of Google. Regulators are eyeing whether unbundling Chrome could be a remedy to what they see as Google’s monopoly in search. In that climate, this offer is as much a strategic signal as it is a financial proposal.
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The Terms That Turn Heads
Perplexity has promised to keep Chrome’s core Chromium code open source, pump in $3 billion over the next two years for upgrades, and maintain Google as the default search engine. That last point might be the most clever part of the pitch. It reassures regulators that user choice is preserved while keeping Google’s search traffic flowing.
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Valued at $14 billion and backed by investors like Nvidia and SoftBank, Perplexity has not yet broken down how it will fund such a massive acquisition. But whispers suggest heavyweight financial partners are already warming up their chequebooks. The startup is no stranger to browsers either. Its AI-powered Comet browser already exists, meaning it would not be stepping into this market blind.
AI’s Latest Battleground: The Browser
This is not just a buyout attempt. It is an AI land grab. Browsers control the front door to the internet, which means they control the data, traffic, and user engagement that fuel AI models. If Perplexity succeeds, it would own two prized assets: the browser market leader and the search traffic that runs through it.
This move could set off a chain reaction. OpenAI, which is building its own AI-driven browser, might speed up its plans. Traditional browser players like Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Safari could find themselves rethinking their strategies. Instead of chasing speed or privacy alone, the next browser wars may be fought on AI integration, personalisation, and conversational browsing.
Why Google Can’t Afford to Blink
For Google, losing Chrome would mean more than just losing market share. Chrome is deeply tied to its ad infrastructure, AI search features, and user data strategy. Selling it, whether by choice or regulatory force, could fracture Google’s business model. That is why, despite mounting antitrust heat, expect Google to fight tooth and nail to keep it.
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At the same time, others like Yahoo and private equity firms are reportedly circling, raising the possibility of a bidding war. Whoever ends up with Chrome will inherit a massive user base and the potential to reshape the web experience.
This Is Less About Browsers, More About Power
The Perplexity bid is not just a tech story; it is a power play in the AI era. Browsers are no longer passive windows to the internet. They are becoming active, intelligent agents. If regulators greenlight a sale, we could see a whole new balance of power in the web economy. Whether Perplexity is serious about owning Chrome or just stirring the pot, one thing is clear: the AI browser era is coming fast, and nobody wants to be caught without a seat at the table.
