In one of the wildest tech moves of the year, AI darling Perplexity has made a jaw-dropping $34.5 billion offer to buy Googles Chrome browser yes, the web browser used by over 3 billion people worldwide.
Whats Going On?
On August 12, 2025, Perplexity sent a formal proposal to Googles parent company, Alphabet, basically saying:
“Hey, well take Chrome off your hands and were ready to pay big.”
The timing couldnt be more dramatic. Google is in the middle of a serious antitrust battle in the U.S., with regulators suggesting Google might have to sell Chrome to break up its hold over the search market.
Why Would Perplexity Even Want Chrome?
For an AI startup, Chrome isnt just a browser its a front door to the internet.
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Billions of users: Instant reach for Perplexitys AI search tools.
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A boost in the AI arms race: Direct competition with big players like Google, Meta, and OpenAI.
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Control of Chromium: Thats the open-source engine behind Chrome (and Edge, Opera, etc.). Perplexity says theyll keep it open and throw $3B into its development.
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No scary changes: They promise that Google search will stay the default, but you can switch to their AI tools if you want.
But How Will They Afford It?
Heres the kicker: Perplexity itself is valued at about $18 billion almost half what theyre offering for Chrome. They claim theyve got major investors ready to back them, but havent named names yet. Some experts are skeptical they can actually pull it off.
The Legal Drama Behind the Scenes
Right now, the U.S. Department of Justice is pushing for Google to give up Chrome, claiming its a huge part of their unfair advantage in search. Google? Not happy. Theyre calling this idea “extreme” and warning it could mess with user experience and online security.
The courts will decide soon. If the ruling says Chrome has to go Perplexity could actually have a shot.
What If Perplexity Actually Gets Chrome?
They say theyd:
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Keep Chromes team and features intact.
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Pump $3 billion into Chrome and Chromium over two years.
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Protect user choice, but offer smart AI-powered tools within the browser.
Why This Story Matters
Whether this is a bold business move, a PR stunt, or the start of a browser revolution, its shaking up the tech world. One things clear the race for how we access the web (and who controls that gateway) is heating up like never before.
