Artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI has made a bold, unsolicited $34.5 billion bid to acquire Google's Chrome browser, sources confirmed on Tuesday.
The offer is higher than Perplexity's current valuation, but the company says several investors are on board. In July, Perplexity was valued at $18 billion, up from $14 billion just a few months earlier.
Perplexity, led by CEO Aravind Srinivas, is best known for its AI-powered search engine that delivers simple answers to users while linking to original web sources.
Last month, the company launched its own AI-powered browser, Comet, designed to perform tasks on users' behalf, CNBC said.
Acquiring Chrome, which boasts more than three billion users, would give Perplexity significant reach to compete with larger AI rivals like OpenAI.
The deal comes after the US Department of Justice ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly in online search.
The DOJ suggested that Google sell off Chrome to help make the market more competitive.
"To remedy these harms, the [Initial Proposed Final Judgment] requires Google to divest Chrome, which will permanently stop Google's control of this critical search access point," the DOJ said. Google has labeled the proposal "wildly overbroad" and plans to appeal the ruling.
Exclusive: AI startup Perplexity makes an unsolicited longshot offer to buy Google’s Chrome browser for $34.5 billion https://t.co/S530iiJW8U
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 12, 2025
Read more: Perplexity AI Seeks TikTok Merger to Form a New Company That Would Give US Government 50% Share
AI Startup Perplexity Pledges $3B Investment in Chrome Acquisition
According to Reuters, Perplexity's offer would keep Chrome's code open source, invest $3 billion over two years, and keep the default search engine, according to a term sheet seen by Reuters.
The all-cash offer is structured to preserve user choice and avoid equity stakes, easing potential competition concerns.
This is not Perplexity's first high-profile move. In January, the startup proposed merging with TikTok US, a deal tied to congressional pressure over its Chinese ownership. The TikTok proposal has yet to materialize.
Analysts, however, are skeptical that Google will sell Chrome.
"It would go to the DC Circuit, which is skeptical of forced divestitures, and it's possible it could even go to the Supreme Court," said Herbert Hovenkamp, professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School.
He noted the legal process could last several years.
Perplexity's bid comes amid a generative AI arms race. Companies like Meta, OpenAI, and other tech giants are spending billions to attract top engineers and build AI infrastructure.
Chrome's massive user base offers access to search traffic and user data, making it a highly strategic acquisition for AI ambitions.
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