Perplexity AI bids $34.5B for Google Chrome as antitrust remedy

Perplexity AI making a move on Google Chrome: antitrust remedies and AI-powered browsing

Perplexity AI making a move on Google Chrome. They offered a $34.5B bid to acquire Chrome as an antitrust remedy. This is a move that blends AI capabilities with regulatory pressure in the US.

Chrome owns 60%+ of global browser use , around 65%+ in the US. Chrome’s default search deals funnel billions in ad revenue to Google.

The DOJ’s 2024 ruling pushed for a remedy that could include divesting Chrome. If that happens, the browser market could shift.

Perplexity’s move is deliberate. They’re valued at about $18B (mid-2025), yet they’re bidding $34.5B to buy Chrome. They say the deal would be non-binding and aimed at meeting antitrust remedies. They plan to keep Chome running for at least 100 months post-close and invest $3B over two years to boost Chrome’s capabilities. The project is code-named Solomon , framed as a way to inject AI-native innovation into Chrome.

The bid doubles as a marketing stunt, lifting Perplexity’s profile in both AI and browser spaces. There’s chatter Perplexity could be acquired by Google or Apple, adding planned ambiguity to the saga.

Regulatory wind? Chrome is not only a browser; it connects users to Google Search, fueling Alphabet’s ad revenue, about $250B in ad revenue in 2024, with Chrome directing a large portion of traffic. A forced divestiture would be a major development for competition in both browsing and search. Regulators globally are watching, but the US move will set the tempo for how this unfolds.

What do the numbers say, beyond the headlines? Perplexity says the bid is funded by big venture funds, even if names aren’t fully disclosed yet. The deal includes a three-year investment horizon to transform Chrome post-acquisition. Alphabet’s revenue resilience is key, but divesting Chrome could erase one of its most strong distribution channels for search and ads. For Perplexity, the payoff would be scale, brand legitimacy, and real-time AI deployment across billions of sessions.

From a market perspective, Chrome’s dominance means any remedy could unlock competition. Open questions remain: can a buyer of Chrome maintain the same network effects, trust, and reliability? Will user defaults, which encourage continued use of Chrome, be balanced with new entrants? The DOJ will want to see guardrails on user choice, privacy, and a smooth transition.

Perplexity AI bids $34.5B for Google Chrome as antitrust remedy

In the broader AI-to-browser trend, Perplexity is betting on AI-native features to redefine browsing. The Comet browser showcases how AI can personalize results, speed up tasks, and reimagine search as an on-page assistant rather than a separate step. If the Chrome divestiture path advances, OpenAI, Apple, or other players could view Chrome as an open arena for competing AI-first experiences.

For users, the headline means more options and more pressure on default settings. The shift could bring new privacy safeguards, more transparent ad practices, and faster AI-enabled browsing features. But until there’s a concrete court-approved remedy and a smooth handover, this stays in the area of ambitious corporate chess, not a done deal.

So where does this leave us today? The bid signals a bold, late-stage push to reshape browser competition in the US. It uses Perplexity’s AI momentum and tries to satisfy a regulatory remedy that could unlock fresh competition. The next steps hinge on regulatory decisions, financing clarity, and how a possible Chrome transition is managed at scale. It’s a high-stakes play, and the clock’s ticking.

Bottom line : if the DOJ’s remedies move forward, Chrome could swap hands, with Perplexity aiming to preserve user experience while turbocharging AI innovation. It’s a bet that could redefine how millions browse the web, search becomes more competitive, and AI features become the default expectation. Keep your eye on regulators and the transition plan, the real win or loss.

If the deal progresses, a staged transition with strict commitments is expected.

Future steps and considerations for browser competition and AI integration

Open questions remain about user choice, privacy protections, and a smooth transition plan that preserves trust and reliability in the Chrome system while enabling AI-native innovations .

Regulatory decisions will determine whether Chrome divestiture proceeds.
Financing clarity impacts the feasibility of the multi-year investment plan.
Transition management will shape user experience during any possible handover.

Sources:

Daimen Blaine

I’m Daimen Blaine. I’m not a guru, and I definitely don’t call myself a “visionary,” but for as long as I can remember, I’ve been obsessed with two things: world-changing ideas and the crazy people bold enough to chase them. That’s why I write. Because every startup is a story waiting to be told - and if there’s a funding round behind it, even better.

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