Perplexity AI’s All-Cash Bid for Google Chrome

AI startup Perplexity AI has made an unsolicited US $34.5 billion bid to acquire Google’s Chrome browser. With over three billion users, Chrome is currently the most popular browser in the world. Perplexity is currently valued at around US$18 billion, illustrating the boldness of a bid nearly twice the company’s own worth. It was emphasized in Perplexity’s announcement regarding the bid that it is an all-cash offer.

The U.S. Department of Justice has asked the court to require Google to divest Chrome, filing proposed remedies on November 20, 2024. As of this writing, the court has not issued a ruling on remedies, though a decision is expected soon.

As noted by Reuters, web browsers like Googles Chrome are “vital gateways to search traffic and prized user data,” making an acquisition of Chrome a coveted asset for any company in the generative AI space.

Ultimately, given the boldness of the bid, whether Chrome will change hands remains uncertain. Alphabet (the parent company of Google) has given no public indication of an intention to sell, and given how deeply integrated Chrome is in the Google universe, a possible sale of their browser seems unlikely. Further, Google is expected to fight any forced sale of the web browser, and while a remedies decision is expected imminently, appeals are likely to follow.