Perplexity's Bold $34.5 Billion Bid for Google Chrome Amidst Antitrust Lawsuit

In an unexpected development, Perplexity has made an offer of $34.5 billion to acquire Google's Chrome browser, according to a report by CNBC. This bid significantly exceeds Perplexity's recent valuations, which stood at $18 billion in July and $14 billion just a few months prior. The company claims to have secured investor backing for the deal, but Google has yet to issue a response.

Perplexity, an AI-integrated search engine known for providing concise answers with source links, recently entered the generative AI market with its new browser, Comet. This move places it in direct competition with major technology firms like Meta and OpenAI. The offer for Chrome follows a previous, unsuccessful acquisition discussion with Meta.

This bid for Chrome is particularly notable as it comes amid an ongoing antitrust lawsuit. Following a loss last year, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has recommended that Google be forced to divest Chrome to create a more competitive environment for search rivals. The DOJ argues that Chrome provides Google with an unfair advantage by serving as a primary source of data for its advertising business. Google, in turn, has labeled the DOJ's proposal as an "overkill" and accused the department of an "intervention agenda." The company has not yet announced any plans to modify its business operations in response to the antitrust ruling.

This is not the first time Perplexity has pursued such an ambitious acquisition. Earlier this year, the company proposed a merger with TikTok during a period of uncertainty regarding the social media platform's future in the United States.