Latest News 🗞️
The tech world is buzzing!
AI startup Perplexity AI has made a jaw-dropping all-cash offer of $34.5 billion to buy Google’s most popular product — the Chrome browser.
This move comes at a time when Google is facing a major antitrust case in the US, and the court has suggested that selling Chrome could be one way to address monopoly concerns.
Why Is This Offer So Huge? 💡
Chrome is the world’s most-used browser with over 3 billion active users.
If Perplexity manages to close this deal, it would instantly gain access to a massive global user base — a potential game-changer for its AI search engine and newly launched AI browser “Comet.”
Where Will the Money Come From? 💰
Perplexity claims it has backing from several major venture capital funds and private investors willing to finance the deal.
Interestingly, the company’s current valuation is only $18 billion, which makes this bid nearly double its own worth.
Legal Pressure on Google ⚖️
In 2024, US Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google had maintained an illegal monopoly in the search market.
Following this, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) suggested that Google should consider selling some of its products, including Chrome, to promote fair competition.
Chrome’s Market Value 📊
Industry analysts estimate Chrome’s value to be between $20 billion and $50 billion.
Perplexity’s $34.5 billion offer falls in the middle range — but the big question is, will Google even consider selling?
Is This Deal Really Possible? 🤔
Google hasn’t issued an official response yet, but most tech experts believe it has no intention of selling Chrome.
Some see Perplexity’s move as more of a PR stunt — a strategic way to grab headlines and public attention.
Other Potential Buyers
Reports suggest that if Chrome were ever put up for sale, companies like OpenAI, Yahoo, and Apollo Global Management might also show interest.
Who Is Perplexity AI?
- Founded: 2022
- Founders: Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski
- Headquarters: San Francisco, USA
- Valuation: $18 billion as of July 2025
- Products: AI-powered search engine, premium subscriptions, advertising services, and the new AI browser “Comet”
- Controversies: Facing lawsuits from BBC, The New York Times, and others over copyright issues — which the company denies.
Outcome
Whether this $34.5 billion offer becomes reality or not, it has already intensified the Google vs. AI startups battle.
If Chrome were to be sold, it could change how billions of people use the internet.
And if it isn’t sold, Perplexity has still succeeded in putting its name at the center of global tech discussions — which might have been the real goal all along.
Sources: Economic Times, Investors.com, The Times UK, Reuters, Search Engine Land, Axios, PYMNTS, NY Post, Al Jazeera, Wikipedia.
