Perplexity proposes to acquire Google Chrome for approximately $50 billion

Perplexity, a company developing an AI search engine, has offered to acquire Google Chrome for $34.5 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Exclusive | Perplexity Makes $34.5 Billion Offer for Google's Chrome Browser - WSJ
https://www.wsj.com/tech/perplexity-ai-google-chrome-offer-5ddb7a22

AI Startup Perplexity Makes $34.5B Bid for Google's Chrome Browser - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-08-12/perplexity-makes-34-5-billion-bid-for-google-s-chrome-browser

The offer is intended to preempt the possibility that Google could be forced to sell its web browser in an antitrust lawsuit. Perplexity is trying to present the judge with an interested buyer, suggesting that selling Chrome could be a 'cleaner and more elegant' remedy, the WSJ reports.

US Department of Justice demands Google sell Chrome, Google counters, 'This goes far beyond the court's decision' - GIGAZINE

If the acquisition goes through, Perplexity said it would invest $3 billion over the next two years in Chrome and the open-source project Chromium, retain most of the Chrome talent, and demonstrate its commitment to stability and user choice by keeping Google as the default search engine and allowing users to change their settings.

While Perplexity's offer is significantly higher than the company's estimated valuation of $18 billion (approximately 2.7 trillion yen), Perplexity's Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, said that 'several large investment funds have agreed to finance the entire transaction.'

Google, which has said it intends to appeal an antitrust lawsuit against a judge who found it had illegally monopolized the search market, declined to comment on Perplexity's offer and reportedly intends to fight any ruling requiring it to sell Chrome.

Google argues that selling Chrome and sharing data with competitors could harm its business, hinder investment in new technology, and create security risks. It has proposed more limited remedies that would amend its exclusivity agreements with Apple, Mozilla, and Android to promote competition.

Colin Sebastian, an analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co., said Perplexity's $34.5 billion offer 'significantly undervalues its assets,' estimating Chrome's value to be closer to $100 billion. Sebastian also said, 'We shouldn't take the forced breakup of Chrome too seriously.'

Sebastian predicts that 'breaking up Chrome is unlikely because it would potentially harm users through a lower-quality, less reliable product and because alternative remedial measures could achieve the objectives of justice.' Google also argues that breaking up Chrome or sharing data with competitors would harm its business, prevent it from investing in new technology, and create potential security risks.

Perplexity has also offered to acquire TikTok.

AI search company Perplexity announces acquisition of TikTok, says it will open-source TikTok's algorithm - GIGAZINE