Introduction
Just when you thought the AI startup hype couldn’t get any wilder, Perplexity dropped a bombshell: a $34.5 billion all-cash offer for Google Chrome. It was bold, audacious, and undeniably brilliant—as a marketing grandstand.
What was this all about? Let’s unpack the strategy, reactions, and what’s next for Perplexity as it races to become a serious contender in the AI browsing era.
1. The Offer: Ambitious or Absurd?
- Perplexity, valued at $18 billion, offered to buy Chrome—a browser used by over 3 billion users and commanding a massive market share.
- The offer included pledges to keep Chromium open-source, retain Google Search as the default, and invest $3 billion into the platform over two years.
- Though the price is within analyst estimates for Chrome's value ($20B–$50B), Google owns it outright, making any sale improbable without court intervention.
2. The Real Reason: PR, Not M&A
- Experts quickly dismissed the offer as a marketing stunt—a shrewd way to grab headlines amid Google’s antitrust fight.
- Perplexity previously made similar splash moves—like a bid for TikTok’s US operations—risking public ridicule but gaining media mileage.
- M. G. Siegler called it “transparently silly marketing,” while others saw it as signaling interest to regulators in case a forced divestiture is mandated.
3. The Antitrust Angle: A Calculated Play
- With U.S. Judge Amit Mehta previously ruling Google as a search monopolist, the DoJ has floated Chrome’s divestiture as an antitrust remedy.
- The Economic Times
- Perplexity may have crafted this offer to appear as a credible buyer—and influence the court's calculus.
- Potential Pathways (All Improbable)
| Scenario | Outcome Likelihood |
|---|---|
| Cherry-pick a sale | Very low—Chrome isn’t for sale, and Google opposes divestiture. ([The Economic Times][1], [exchange4media][2]) |
| Forced sale by court | Still unlikely—but Perplexity’s bid puts them at the table if it happens. ([Investors][3], [NewsBytes][4]) |
| Signal to investors | Extremely likely—headline-making move draws relevance, potential backers, and boosts visibility. |
5. What's Next for Perplexity
- Perplexity just launched Comet, an AI-native browser built on Chromium. This bid positions Comet as a potential successor to Chrome, in case of regulatory shifts.
- The company is now raising funds at a $20 billion valuation—up from $18B just weeks ago—suggesting the strategy paid off.
- Meanwhile, Google remains defiant, defending Chrome as vital to user security and its business model.
Final Thoughts
- Perplexity didn't really expect to buy Chrome—but that wasn’t the point. In one move, they injected themselves into the biggest tech antitrust conversation and reset their relevance in the AI era.
- Whether or not a forced divestiture ever materializes, Perplexity’s PR gambit shows how a daring headline can change perception overnight.
References Used
Here are some key reference links about Perplexity's bold bid to acquire Google Chrome:
https://www.axios.com/2025/08/12/ai-perplexity-google-chrome-deal
https://www.ft.com/content/cfabc5b6-885f-44b3-a640-faf8aa235c90
https://www.barrons.com/articles/perplexity-bids-alphabet-google-chrome-2bae9c2b
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s01QuLpjISc (YouTube video)
Top comments (2)
Alphabet should take the offer to call their bluff, and get the company when they are not able to pay.
I hate how everything is about hype nowadays. There is no value in money anymore. If it is below nine figures the news is not picking it up anymore. And meanwhile most of the people struggle to get an earnest living. Just because the people that already have a ridiculous sum of money even want more.
@xwero - You bring up a really important point. The hype-driven tech landscape often overshadows the day-to-day realities most people face, and it’s true that media tends to amplify only the big, flashy numbers.
In Perplexity’s case, it’s interesting because this ‘offer’ was less about a real transaction and more about making a statement (and grabbing attention). It raises the bigger question: has tech PR crossed the line where newsworthiness is now purely about spectacle rather than substance?
Your point about Alphabet ‘calling the bluff’ is fascinating-imagine if they did! It would completely flip the script and expose the difference between marketing stunts and actual business deals.