Perplexity AI Stuns Market With Bid to Buy Google’s Chrome Browser

Artificial intelligence start-up Perplexity AI has shocked the tech world with a $34.5bn (£25.6bn) takeover bid for Google Chrome, the globe’s most widely used web browser. Reports Technology News

The three-year-old company — backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and chip giant Nvidia — is led by a former Google and OpenAI employee. However, one technology industry investor dismissed the bid as a “stunt,” calling the offer far below Chrome’s true market value and noting it’s unclear whether the browser is even for sale.

The move comes as a US federal judge prepares to rule this month on a landmark antitrust case that could force Google to break up its search operations. Google has vowed to appeal any such ruling, arguing that spinning off Chrome would be an “unprecedented proposal” detrimental to both consumers and online security.

In a letter to Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, Perplexity claimed that placing Chrome under an independent operator with a focus on user safety would serve the public interest. The start-up has not disclosed how it would finance the deal. As of July, Perplexity’s own valuation stood at an estimated $18bn.