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Perplexity AI, a rapidly growing artificial intelligence startup, has made an unsolicited all-cash offer of USD34.5 billion (about RM155 billion) to acquire Google Chrome.
The move comes as Google faces increasing antitrust pressure in the United States, including a recent court ruling that found its search practices monopolistic.
What happened
The bid is notable not only for its size but also for its timing. U.S. regulators are exploring remedies that could include forcing Google to divest Chrome to restore competition.
Perplexity’s offer positions the company as a ready buyer, potentially presenting an alternative to government-mandated restructuring.
Perplexity itself is currently valued between USD14 billion and USD18 billion, far less than the proposed purchase price. However, the company claims it has secured financing commitments from major backers, including SoftBank, Nvidia, and Jeff Bezos.
What's next?
As part of the proposal, Perplexity has pledged to invest USD3 billion over the next two years to maintain the Chromium open-source platform, retain Chrome’s development team, and keep Google as the browser’s default search engine.
Analysts remain sceptical about the offer’s viability. Google has not indicated that it is willing to sell Chrome and is appealing the antitrust ruling.
Some industry experts also believe Chrome’s market value could be as high as US$50 billion, raising questions about whether the offer is sufficient.
Regardless of the outcome, the move has brought significant attention to Perplexity and its AI-driven browser, Comet, which is currently being rolled out to users.
If successful, this acquisition could reshape the browser market and potentially accelerate AI-powered web experiences in regions such as Malaysia.
Do you think Perplexity can pull off such a massive deal, or is this more of a strategic publicity move?
Stay tuned to TechNave.com for more updates.
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