In a move no one saw coming, AI startup Perplexity just put a jaw-dropping $34.5 billion offer on the table to buy Google’s Chrome browser. Yep, that Chrome — the same one that dominates how millions of us get online every day.
A Bid Straight Out of a Tech Thriller
The San Francisco–based company sent the unsolicited offer to Google’s parent company, Alphabet, on Tuesday morning. The timing is no accident — Google is currently facing antitrust heat in the U.S., with regulators pushing for big changes that could include forcing the tech giant to sell Chrome.
If Judge Amit Mehta rules in favor of those remedies in the coming days, Chrome could officially be up for grabs — and Perplexity clearly wants first dibs.
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The David vs. Goliath Twist
Here’s the wild part: Perplexity was valued at $18 billion earlier this year after raising $100 million in fresh funding. So how does a company worth half of its bid price plan to pull this off?
According to Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, multiple large investment funds are ready to back the deal “in full.” The company has also promised no stealth changes to Chrome, saying users and advertisers will get “continuity and choice.”
Why Chrome Matters So Much in the AI Era
The battle for your browser isn’t just about speed or design anymore — it’s about AI dominance. Chrome, along with its open-source cousin Chromium, powers a huge share of web access worldwide.
And with AI agents being built to shop for you, manage tasks, and even answer questions inside the browser (hello, Google’s Search Generative Experience), owning Chrome could be a goldmine for any AI company.
Perplexity’s Bigger Game Plan
This isn’t the first time Perplexity has gone after a major internet player. Earlier this year, it floated a bid to merge with TikTok’s U.S. operations as the app faced a potential ban.
The startup is also cooking up its own AI-powered browser, Comet, which it says will come with a built-in AI agent. If the Chrome deal happens, Perplexity plans to invest $3 billion over two years into Chrome and Chromium — and even hire much of the existing Chrome team.
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What’s Next?
Google hasn’t publicly responded to the offer yet. But make no mistake — the idea of Chrome changing hands is a tech earthquake that could reshape how we all experience the web.
If Judge Mehta’s ruling cracks the door open, the browser wars might just get the biggest shake-up in decades.
