A Surprise Bid Shakes Up the Tech World
In a move that has stunned the technology industry, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity has made an unexpected offer to buy Google’s Chrome web browser. The proposed deal is worth an incredible $34.5 billion.
The offer comes at a time when Google is facing legal pressure in the United States. A recent court ruling found that the company held a monopoly on search and acted illegally by paying billions to remain the default search engine on devices from major phone makers and browsers. The court’s next step could be to order Google to sell Chrome as part of an antitrust remedy.
Reports from major financial outlets say Perplexity made the offer without being invited. This means Google did not ask for Chrome to be sold, but Perplexity still went ahead with its proposal.
Industry watchers say it is extremely rare for a smaller company to openly bid for one of the most important products of a tech giant. Chrome is not just any browser — it is a gateway to Google’s entire online ecosystem, linking users to search, email, cloud services, and more
How a Smaller Company Plans a Big Buy
Perplexity’s offer is surprising for another reason: the AI startup itself is valued at around $18 billion — almost half of the amount it is offering for Chrome. Despite this, the company says it already has commitments from several large investors to fully fund the deal.
In a letter to Google’s parent company, the startup said its goal was to put Chrome in the hands of an independent operator that could manage it in the public’s best interest.
Perplexity was founded in 2022 and recently launched an AI-powered web browser called Comet. The company has gained attention in the tech world for its rapid growth and ambitious projects. However, it has also faced legal troubles. Last year, major media companies accused the startup of copying large amounts of copyrighted material. Perplexity denied the claims, calling the accusations unnecessary and damaging to innovation.
How Cyber Attacks on Industrial Control Systems Can Endanger Lives ?
The startup’s current browser, Comet, combines traditional web browsing with built-in AI assistance, allowing users to search, summarize, and interact with web content in real time. Supporters of Perplexity argue that if it acquired Chrome, it could blend this AI technology with Chrome’s speed and reliability. Critics, however, question whether a young company could manage such a massive platform without running into technical or regulatory challenges.
Some analysts think the offer is a smart move. It helps Perplexity become a strong competitor to the biggest tech companies. By making this bold bid, the company made global news. It also showed investors that it is ready to take big risks.
The Legal Pressure on Google
The United States Justice Department has been pushing for Google to sell Chrome as part of the remedy in its antitrust case. The government argued that Google used illegal agreements to keep its search engine as the default option on most web browsers and smartphones.
The court said these deals gave Google an unfair advantage over rivals. They helped the company stay on top of the search market. This ruling was a big setback for the tech giant. Google has relied on search ads for much of its income.
Cyberattack Catastrophe: How Hackers Can Endanger Human Lives ?
Many people have closely followed the legal case because it could change how online markets work. If the court separates Chrome from Google, more companies could compete in both search and browser markets. This change could also affect how companies show ads, handle user data, and promote services within the browser.
For now, Google has not publicly responded to Perplexity’s offer. The next major development will likely depend on the court’s decision on whether Chrome must be sold at all.
