Artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI has made an unexpected $34.5 billion offer to acquire Google’s Chrome browser, a move backed by commitments from venture investors. The bid exceeds Perplexity’s own $18 billion valuation from July but comes amid momentum in the AI sector and heightened antitrust pressure on Google.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which won an antitrust case against Google last year, has proposed that the tech giant divest Chrome, arguing the browser is a key “gateway to the internet” and critical to maintaining Google’s search monopoly. Chrome, launched in 2008, collects user data used for targeted advertising. Google has rejected the DOJ’s proposal as “wildly overbroad,” but has not outlined its next steps.
Perplexity, best known for its AI-powered search engine and recently launched Comet browser, is positioning itself as a major player in generative AI alongside Meta and OpenAI. The company says the Chrome acquisition would create a more competitive search ecosystem.
This is not Perplexity’s first ambitious attempt at a transformative deal — earlier this year, it proposed a merger with TikTok amid U.S. legislative threats to ban the app unless its Chinese parent ByteDance divested it. That proposal has yet to progress.
Google has not commented on the bid, which was first reported by The Wall Street Journal. If successful, the deal could reshape both the browser and search markets ahead of the Women’s ODI World Cup and other major digital milestones.