Perplexity AI shocked the tech world on August 12, 2025. The young startup offered $34.5 billion in cash to buy Google’s Chrome browser. This offer came without Google asking for it. The move shows how Perplexity wants to place itself at the center of AI-driven search and browsing.
Why Chrome Matters
Chrome has over three billion users worldwide. It is the most popular browser in the world. Perplexity already has its own AI-powered browser called Comet. But Comet is new and still small compared to Chrome. By buying Chrome, Perplexity could instantly reach billions of people. This would help it compete directly with Google, Microsoft, and other AI rivals.
Comet is not just a normal browser. It uses AI to help people do tasks faster, like research, summarizing articles, and completing work inside the browser. If Perplexity combines Comet’s AI features with Chrome’s user base, it could change how people browse the internet.
What Perplexity Promises
Perplexity made some big promises in its offer.
- It will keep Chromium, the open-source code behind Chrome, free and open for developers.
- It will invest $3 billion over the next two years to improve the browser.
- It will keep Chrome’s current default search engine, which means it will not force users to change to Perplexity’s own search.
These promises seem designed to avoid backlash and make the deal more appealing to regulators and users.
The Antitrust Background
This offer comes at a time when the U.S. government is pressuring Google. A federal judge ruled that Google holds an illegal monopoly in online search. The judge also said that Chrome plays a key role in helping Google keep that power. The U.S. Justice Department wants Google to sell Chrome as part of fixing the problem.
This legal battle gives Perplexity an opening. If the court orders Google to sell Chrome, Perplexity wants to be first in line to buy it.
How Perplexity Plans to Pay
Perplexity is worth about $14 billion today. It has raised about $1 billion from investors, including big names like Nvidia and SoftBank. Even though the $34.5 billion price is more than twice its own value, Perplexity says it has commitments from several investment funds to fully finance the deal.
Still, some experts doubt whether Perplexity can actually pull this off. Google may refuse to sell Chrome at all. Even if the court orders a sale, Google will likely appeal, which could delay things for years.
Other Interested Buyers
Perplexity is not alone in wanting Chrome. Other companies like OpenAI, Yahoo, and Apollo Global have also shown interest. They all see Chrome as a valuable entry point to users and an advantage in the AI race.
Alphabet, Google’s parent company, continues to focus on AI. It says its new AI Overviews in search now serve 1.5 billion users every month. It is also growing its Gemini AI models and even signed OpenAI as a cloud customer.
How the Market Reacted
When news of Perplexity’s offer came out, Alphabet’s stock went up by about 1.6%. The market as a whole also rose, partly because investors expect U.S. interest rate cuts and lower inflation.
The offer carries big risks for Perplexity. If Google rejects the bid, Perplexity could look over-ambitious or unrealistic. If regulators delay a decision for years, Perplexity could waste time and resources waiting.
Why Perplexity is Making This Move
Perplexity wants to grow faster. It knows that building a browser audience from scratch takes years. Buying Chrome would give it instant scale and global reach. It also wants to position itself as the solution to the government’s antitrust concerns. By promising to keep Chrome open and not disrupt its defaults, Perplexity hopes to win trust from both regulators and users.
This move fits a bigger pattern in the tech industry. AI startups now have the confidence to challenge the biggest companies directly. They are not content to build niche tools—they want the main stage.
What Happens Next
Even if Perplexity has the money ready, the legal and regulatory process will decide the outcome. Google will almost certainly fight the sale. Courts could take years to make a final decision. The U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington often avoids ordering companies to sell parts of their business. The case could even reach the Supreme Court.
If Perplexity succeeds, it would control one of the world’s most used digital platforms. It could merge its AI browser features with Chrome, potentially changing how billions of people search and browse. If it fails, it will still have made a bold statement that smaller AI companies can take on Big Tech.
Key Points in Simple Terms
- The offer: Perplexity wants to buy Google Chrome for $34.5 billion in cash.
- Why now: The U.S. government wants Google to sell Chrome as part of an antitrust case.
- Perplexity’s plan: Keep Chrome open source, invest $3 billion, and keep the current search engine.
- The challenge: Google might not sell. Even if it must, court appeals could delay the process for years.
- The bigger picture: AI companies now aim directly at core Big Tech products, not just small niches.
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