Perplexity AI Unveils $34.5 B All-Cash Bid to Acquire Google Chrome
SAN FRANCISCO & CHENNAI, August 13, 2025 – In a move that’s shaking up Silicon Valley, Perplexity AI, the $18 billion generative AI startup co-founded and led by Indian-origin CEO Aravind Srinivas, has submitted an unsolicited, non-binding $34.5 billion all-cash offer to acquire Google Chrome—the world’s preeminent web browser with over three billion users .
What’s Behind the Offer?
- Regulatory Opportunity: The bid comes amid ongoing U.S. antitrust actions, including a court ruling that found Google’s search business a monopoly and DOJ proposals that could force Chrome’s spin-off .
- Strategic Leverage: Ownership of Chrome would give Perplexity direct access to massive user data and browsing behavior—key leverage in the intensifying AI search battle against Google, OpenAI, and others .
- Financial Stretch: The offer eclipses Perplexity’s own ~$14–18 billion valuation. The startup claims to have secured backing from major, unnamed VCs to fully fund the bid .
Terms & Commitments
Perplexity’s term sheet—internally coined Project Solomon—details several key pledges:
- All-cash transaction: $34.5 billion, fully upfront .
- Open-source commitment: Maintain Chrome’s Chromium basis and invest $3 billion over two years to enhance development .
- User choice preserved: Allow users full control over default settings and keep Google as default search .
- Support assurance: Guarantee Chrome availability and compatibility for at least ~8 years post-acquisition .
Real Bid or PR Gambit?
🕵️ Regulatory Chess
The timing aligns with a potential forced divestiture of Chrome due to antitrust pressure. While Google will likely contest any such ruling—it has already appealed—the move injects a credible alternative acquirer into the conversation .
🔥 PR & Market Positioning
Analysts suggest the bid is “a moonshot”—designed as much for attention and profile-raising as for actual acquisition .
🚀 Product-Promotion Strategy
Perplexity recently launched Comet, its AI-powered Chromium-based browser. This splashy move aligns perfectly with a promotional push for Comet by drawing headlines to its browser capabilities .
Past Bold Tactics
This isn’t unprecedented for Perplexity:
- Earlier this year, the startup floated a merger proposal with TikTok’s US operations, citing geopolitical concerns about Chinese ownership .
- The company has maintained a pattern of bold, attention-grabbing strategies.
Skepticism & Market Reaction
- Experts note that Chrome is the gateway to Google’s search-dominated revenue model, making it highly unlikely Alphabet would consider selling voluntarily .
- Online sentiment ranges from mockery to amazement: “Chrome makes more revenue than entire market capitalisation of perplexity”
“These clowns bid for literally everything… They do it just to get attention.”
What’s Next?
Event Expectation Google’s Response Unlikely to negotiate—will appeal and may challenge divestiture Court Decision The timeline remains unclear; any forced sale could take years and face appeals Bidding Competitors OpenAI, Yahoo, Apollo have reportedly expressed interest Chrome’s Future If spun off, any new owner could integrate advanced AI features like Perplexity’s Comet offers: summaries, automated shopping, task agents
Analyst Take:
Experts call it a regulatory gambit combined with promotional spectacle—a calculated risk that brings attention to Perplexity amid regulatory heat on Google and fuels awareness of Comet. Whether it leads to a real transaction or is destined to fizzle, it undeniably underscores how browsers are becoming central battlegrounds in the AI era.
Final Thought
Is this a genuine takeover bid? Possibly—especially if a court compels divestiture.
Is it a bold regulatory play? Absolutely—it forces attention on potential breakup remedies.
Is it a PR masterpiece? Without question—the world’s talking about Perplexity’s aims and Comet’s launch.
