Intense Bid of $35 Billion Proposed for Google Chrome amidst Heated Artificial Intelligence Browser rivalry
In a significant move that could reshape the browser and AI search integration landscape, Perplexity AI has made an unsolicited all-cash bid of $34.5 billion to acquire Google Chrome. This bid, aimed at capitalizing on ongoing U.S. antitrust pressure that might force Google to divest the dominant browser, has become the primary focus of discussions surrounding Chrome's potential sale.
Perplexity's offer stands out due to its financial commitment, strategic promises, and potential impact. The bid is primarily cash, nearly doubling Perplexity’s own valuation, and the company pledges to maintain Chromium open-source, invest $3 billion into its development, and keep Google Search as the default search engine for Chrome users.
The bid is positioned as a positive antitrust remedy to maintain Internet choice while continuing browser innovation. Perplexity also has backing from major venture capital funds and is close to a strategic partnership with Samsung to embed its AI search technology in Samsung devices.
In comparison, Search.com's bid details remain undisclosed, but it positions Chrome as the backbone for a platform built for public interest, not just profit. Search.com offers user-focused perks such as ad-free browsing, cashback for searches, and a 60% revenue-share model for publishers.
The stakes are high, with Chrome accounting for about 65% of global browser use. The deal, if approved, would give the winning bidder control of the world's most-used browser and its search traffic.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Google in 2020, alleging it illegally dominates search and advertising. Google's control of search traffic is estimated to be nearly 90%, according to a March 2025 Wharton report. The bids are framed as remedies to Google's dominance in the search and browser market.
Other players in the market include Opera, which runs on Google's Gemini and is testing a next-gen browser called Neon. Rumours suggest that OpenAI is developing an AI-built browser. Brave includes the Leo assistant in its browser, while Microsoft has added Copilot Mode to Edge.
Google has not publicly responded to either proposal. The offer is backed by JPMorgan Chase and a consortium of private equity firms. The current status is that Perplexity AI's bid is the only public offer of note, as Search.com has not been mentioned in the available search results as making any offer for Chrome.
As the court sets terms for the antitrust remedies in the near future, the race to acquire Google Chrome promises to be a fascinating development in the tech industry.
- Perplexity AI's bid for Google Chrome, worth $34.5 billion, has attracted attention due to its significant investment in finance, promising to inject $3 billion into the development of Chromium, the open-source browser technology.
- The technology sector is abuzz with the potential impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the browser market, as companies like Perplexity AI and rumored players such as OpenAI introduce AI search technology in their browsers.
- The race to acquire Google Chrome, with all its associated finance, business, and technological aspects, is being closely watched, particularly as it may reshape the landscape of search integration, a key point of Google's dominance, which has been under scrutiny by antitrust authorities.
