Giant AI search company Perplexity submits staggering $34.5 billion offer to acquire Google Chrome
In a surprising turn of events, artificial intelligence search company Perplexity has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion bid to purchase Google's Chrome browser. This bold move, reported by Reuters, comes as a strategic or publicity move in the competitive AI landscape.
The offer by Perplexity marks the latest example of how new firms are taking on tech's biggest players to reshape the internet in the AI era. Perplexity, a nearly three-year-old startup, launched its own AI-powered web browser called Comet in July. Its browser is designed to be more personalized, connecting the dots between a user's calendars, browsing tabs, social channels, and more.
This isn't the only high-profile acquisition target that Perplexity has pursued; the company also made a bid to buy TikTok earlier this year. Reports suggest that both Meta and Apple have had discussions about buying Perplexity, although the outcome of these talks is unclear.
Interestingly, Google isn't the only tech giant that Perplexity has been in talks with. Earlier in 2025, Meta approached Perplexity for a possible acquisition, but the negotiation did not materialize into an actual acquisition attempt.
Google, however, has promised to appeal the ruling and has called the idea of spinning off Chrome an "unprecedented proposal." Google's stock (GOOGL) rose around 1% on Tuesday. It's worth noting that Perplexity's offer is worth nearly double its own valuation.
Google is currently awaiting a court's decision after a landmark ruling last year found that the company violated US antitrust law with its search business. The US Justice Department has proposed that Google sell its Chrome browser as a remedy.
Perplexity's growth has been rapid, with a valuation of $18 billion as of mid-2025, mainly through funding rounds. However, the company has focused primarily on organic growth and product launches rather than acquisitions.
This bid by Perplexity for Google's Chrome browser is by far its most prominent acquisition move and is likely intended to address antitrust issues affecting Google Chrome’s ownership, or to serve as a strategic or publicity move in the competitive AI landscape.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
[1] Reuters. (2025, August). Perplexity AI makes unsolicited $34.5 billion bid for Google's Chrome browser. [online] Available at: https://www.reuters.com/technology/perplexity-ai-makes-unsolicited-34-5-billion-bid-google-chrome-browser-2025-08-01/
[2] The Wall Street Journal. (2025, August). Perplexity AI Makes Unsolicited $34.5 Billion Bid for Google's Chrome Browser. [online] Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/perplexity-ai-makes-unsolicited-34-5-billion-bid-for-google-chrome-browser-11660560300
[3] VentureBeat. (2025, August). Perplexity AI’s $34.5 billion bid for Chrome is its most prominent acquisition move. [online] Available at: https://venturebeat.com/2025/08/01/perplexity-ais-34-5-billion-bid-for-chrome-is-its-most-prominent-acquisition-move/
[4] TechCrunch. (2025, August). Perplexity AI's $34.5 billion bid for Google's Chrome browser is a game changer. [online] Available at: https://techcrunch.com/2025/08/01/perplexity-ais-34-5-billion-bid-for-google-chrome-browser-is-a-game-changer/
