Surprise Google with Perplexity's new proposal
In a surprising turn of events, AI startup Perplexity has made an unsolicited offer of $34.5 billion to acquire Google's Chrome browser[1][2][3]. This announcement, made public on August 12, 2025, is part of Project Solomon and aims to maintain Chrome's availability and support for at least 100 months post-sale, with a $3 billion investment over two years to support the browser’s development[1].
The offer is seen as a strategic move by Perplexity, which recently launched its own AI-powered browser, Comet. Comet boasts several AI integration advantages over Chrome[1][2]. The bid could potentially signal to Judge Mehta, who is reviewing whether to order Google to sell the browser to weaken its dominance in web search, that there is an interested buyer[1].
However, it's important to note that Google has shown no signs of willingness to sell the Chrome browser[7]. Moreover, analysts consider it unlikely that the judge will order Google to sell Chrome[6]. The exact terms and conditions of the proposed transaction are not publicly disclosed[1].
The offer remains unsolicited and non-binding, with no public indication that Google is negotiating or accepting the proposal yet[1]. Some Perplexity investors reportedly were not informed about the bid, signifying internal uncertainties about the deal[1].
Perplexity, founded in 2022 and based in San Francisco, has attracted several investors, including major venture capital funds, to support the transaction[5]. The startup's goal, like that of other AI startups, is to provide users with faster, more concrete answers instead of web links[4].
This move by Perplexity could potentially threaten Google's current business model, which generates most of its income from links from advertising customers placed next to search results[8]. However, if this search behavior becomes established, it could provide an opportunity for Perplexity and other AI startups to challenge Google's dominance in internet search[4].
References:
- Wall Street Journal
- ntv.de
- jki/DJ
- TechCrunch
- VentureBeat
- The Verge
- Bloomberg
- Forbes
