Is a historic takeover in the works? Perplexity could buy the Chrome browser, according to a surprise offer published this week. In return, this could rid Google of a thorny problem. What do we know so far?
Perplexity plans to buy Chrome from Google
AI startup Perplexity specializes in online search and providing reliable data. And it has big plans: it wants to buy Google’s Chrome browser. To do so, it is prepared to pay a staggering $34.5 billion.
Perplexity is currently valued at $18 billion. According to the Wall Street Journal, it has sent a letter of intent to Google to convey its proposal. Perplexity has also stated that several large investment funds are eyeing the project, which would enable it to raise the substantial sum offered.
Perplexity offers a search engine for finding information, similar to Google. The company also provides an LLM-type assistant for conversing with users. Getting its hands on a giant like Chrome would therefore be very advantageous for the development of the company, which needs to find its place in a particularly saturated AI ecosystem.
An offer that would come as a relief to Google?
If Google were to agree to part with one of its crown jewels, it would be because it has no other choice. The company is facing legal action from the US Department of Justice for abuse of its dominant position. It is accused of favoring Chrome over its competitors, which could have serious legal consequences.
The US Department of Justice has intervened in the case, asking the judge to force Google to sell its browser. Although the decision has not yet been handed down (it is expected this month), this puts serious pressure on the tech giant. Selling Chrome to Perplexity could therefore allow Google to remove a thorn from its side.
In recent years, lawmakers have taken a tougher stance on anti-competitive practices, with the tech giant Google coming under scrutiny on several occasions. Perplexity therefore intends to seize the opportunity, as it confirmed to the BBC:
This is an important commitment to the open web, to choice for users, and to continuity for everyone who has chosen Chrome.
Perplexity is committed to maintaining Google as its default search engine and investing $3 billion over two years. If an agreement is reached, it would be a minor revolution: Chrome has been part of Google since its creation in 2008.
