In a move that has sent shockwaves through the technology sector, Perplexity AI stuns the industry with an unsolicited all-cash offer of $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s Chrome browser. The proposed amount is nearly double the startup’s own estimated valuation of $18 billion, underscoring the audacity of the bid.
Perplexity’s letter to Google’s leadership pledged to keep Chrome open and free through continued support for its underlying Chromium project. It also promised to maintain Google as the default search engine—while still giving users the freedom to switch—and committed $3 billion in upgrades over the next two years to improve performance, support, and security. The company further vowed to retain key Chrome personnel for at least 100 months following a deal.
The offer comes at a pivotal moment, as Google faces intense regulatory scrutiny and the possibility of being forced to divest Chrome due to an ongoing U.S. antitrust case.
Market Shock and Strategic Significance
Chrome, with more than three billion users worldwide and a dominant share of the global browser market, is one of the most valuable gateways to the internet. Acquiring it would give Perplexity direct control over a critical entry point to global web traffic, as well as vast user behavior data that could supercharge its AI-powered search offerings.
Industry analysts say Perplexity AI stuns with an offer that serves as both a strategic statement and a marketing play. While some question whether the startup has the means to finance such a massive purchase, others note the move elevates Perplexity’s profile and draws attention to its own AI browser, Comet.
Despite skepticism over the likelihood of the deal closing, Perplexity AI stuns the market with an announcement that sparked a positive reaction, as Alphabet’s shares rose more than 1% in the hours after the news broke. Analysts believe larger, better-funded contenders could emerge if Chrome were ever officially put up for sale, but Perplexity’s bid has nonetheless reframed the competitive conversation.
A Pattern of Ambitious Plays
This is not the first time Perplexity AI stuns with a high-profile acquisition. Earlier this year, the company made headlines by offering to merge with TikTok’s U.S. operations during political and regulatory uncertainty surrounding the app’s ownership.
The Chrome bid aligns with Perplexity’s pattern of opportunistic, headline-grabbing moves. By targeting one of the most recognized digital platforms in the world, the startup is signaling its intent to become a major force in both AI and internet infrastructure.
Google, for its part, is expected to continue fighting the antitrust ruling that threatens to break up its search monopoly. The company argues that divesting Chrome could harm consumers, developers, and U.S. tech leadership. Meanwhile, regulators are weighing remedies that could fundamentally reshape the browser and search markets.
Whether the $34.5 billion proposal is a genuine takeover attempt or a strategic bid to raise Perplexity’s profile, it has already succeeded in dominating industry discussions—and in highlighting the shifting power dynamics between tech incumbents and fast-moving AI challengers.
