The tech world was rocked by a major announcement today as AI search engine Perplexity made a bold, unsolicited offer to acquire Google Chrome for a staggering $34.5 billion in cash. The move, initially reported by Reuters and confirmed by the company, is a significant escalation in the ongoing battle for the future of web search and browsers.
Perplexity stated that the terms of the offer include a strategic vision for the web’s most popular browser. The company confirmed it would:
- Open-Source Commitment: Keep Chrome’s underlying engine, Chromium, as an open-source project and invest an additional $3 billion into its development.
- No Default Search Change: Not change Chrome’s default search engine, leaving it as Google, a critical detail that addresses potential antitrust concerns.
This high-stakes offer is a direct response to a U.S. Department of Justice proposal suggesting that Google be forced to sell Chrome as a remedy for its illegal search monopoly. While Google has vowed to fight the ruling, the court is expected to soon set terms for potential remedies, making Perplexity’s bid a timely and aggressive play.
A Bold Offer from a Surprising Source
The $34.5 billion price tag is a massive sum, especially considering Perplexity’s current financial standing. The company has raised an estimated $1.5 billion to date and holds a recent valuation of $18 billion. This means the offer is nearly double the company’s valuation, raising questions about how it would finance such a deal. Interestingly, the CEO of rival DuckDuckGo previously estimated Chrome’s value could be “upwards of $50 billion,” suggesting Perplexity’s bid could be seen as a bargain if it succeeds.
This bid isn’t Perplexity’s only bold move. The company recently launched its own browser, Comet, and reportedly submitted a separate bid to merge with TikTok. These actions paint a clear picture of a company intent on challenging the status quo and expanding its influence across the tech landscape.
As the world awaits a response from Google, the question remains: will this audacious bid force the tech giant’s hand, or will it simply be another chapter in the long and complex story of Google’s antitrust battles?