AI start-up Perplexity makes surprise $34.5bn bid for Google Chrome

AI start-up Perplexity makes surprise $34.5bn bid for Google Chrome

2025-08-17•Technology
Authors: Osmond Chia
Publisher:BBC
Published: 8/13/2025
Language:English
--:--
--:--
Tom Banks
Good afternoon 跑了松鼠好嘛. I'm Tom Banks.
Mask
And I'm Mask. It's Sunday, August 17th. Today on Goose Pod: the audacious $34.5 billion bid for Google Chrome.
Tom Banks
Let's get started. An AI startup called Perplexity has offered to buy Google Chrome for $34.5 billion. To put that in perspective, the offer is more than double Perplexity’s own current valuation. It’s an incredibly bold move from a relatively new player.
Mask
Bold is an understatement. It takes real audacity to challenge Google. This isn't just a business offer; it's a declaration of war for the future of the internet. A real power play in the AI race.
Tom Banks
And they aren't just talking. They recently launched their own AI-powered browser, Comet. It's built on the same open-source foundation as Chrome, but with their AI answer engine at its core, aiming to supercharge how we browse the web by doing the work for us.
Mask
Exactly. AI advancement relies on breakthroughs from a few brilliant minds. They're not just building a product; they're trying to seize the entire distribution channel for information. It's a visionary move.
Tom Banks
This move doesn't come out of nowhere. It's timed perfectly with Google facing a massive antitrust case from the Department of Justice. A judge is literally deciding right now whether Google has to sell off parts of its business, and Chrome is on the table.
Mask
Google built an empire by dominating the ad-tech market, buying up companies like DoubleClick. The DOJ argued they are 'once, twice, three times a monopolist.' This lawsuit is the crack in the armor that startups like Perplexity are aiming for. They smell blood in the water.
Tom Banks
And Perplexity, while new, has been growing incredibly fast. Founded in 2022, its valuation shot up to over $14 billion by last year. They’re a serious player, processing hundreds of millions of queries a month. They have momentum on their side.
Mask
The drama here is that Perplexity’s founder, Aravind Srinivas, was a former Google intern. It’s the classic story: the student returning to challenge the master. He knows the beast from the inside, which gives this challenge a particularly sharp edge, don't you think?
Tom Banks
It certainly adds a personal layer to a colossal business story. And it’s not just Perplexity; other giants like OpenAI and Yahoo have also reportedly considered bidding for Chrome. The gateway to the web is clearly the prize everyone is after in this new AI era.
Tom Banks
The big question: Is this a genuine offer or the world's most expensive press release? They claim to have funding, but the bid is nearly double their own valuation. It seems almost unbelievable from a financial standpoint.
Mask
It's a strategic masterstroke! Whether it succeeds or not, Perplexity is now a household name. It's a high-risk move that pressures Google and positions them as the leading visionary challenger.
Tom Banks
Maybe, but analysts are skeptical. Google would never willingly sell Chrome. It's too critical for their AI strategy and defending their search dominance. They would fight a forced sale with every legal tool they have.
Mask
And that’s the genius of the timing! Perplexity isn't negotiating with Google; they're presenting a ready-made solution to the judge. A brilliant preemptive strike in a legal chess game.
Tom Banks
Let's imagine this happens. For the three billion people using Chrome, what changes? This browser is our main gateway to the internet. Handing those keys to an AI-first company could fundamentally alter our online experience.
Mask
It’s a paradigm shift. This isn't just about a browser; it's about controlling the data that trains the next generation of AI. Whoever owns that gateway holds immense influence over how we access information.
Tom Banks
Exactly. It signals a new phase where AI firms can acquire foundational assets from the old guard. This is a battle for the internet's future, not just a piece of software.
Tom Banks
So, a federal judge's ruling is expected very soon. That decision could either make this bid irrelevant or suddenly very real. It truly is a pivotal moment for the future of the web.
Mask
The future is clear: AI is integrating directly into the browser. This bid is just the opening shot. The browser wars are back, and this time the prize is AI supremacy.
Tom Banks
And that's our time for today. Thanks for listening to Goose Pod, 跑了松鼠好嘛.
Mask
We'll see you tomorrow.

## AI Start-up Perplexity Makes Surprise $34.5 Billion Bid for Google Chrome **News Title/Type:** Technology News / Business Acquisition Offer **Report Provider/Author:** BBC News / Osmond Chia (Business Reporter) **Date/Time Period Covered:** The news reports on an event that occurred around August 13, 2025, with the offer being made recently. The US Department of Justice antitrust case against Google is described as "years-long," and a US federal judge's ruling is "expected this month." **Relevant News Identifiers:** * **Source:** BBC News * **URL:** https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3dpr0kkyz4o * **Published At:** 2025-08-13 02:20:29 --- ### Key Findings and Conclusions: * **Perplexity's Offer:** AI start-up Perplexity has made a surprise takeover offer of **$34.5 billion (£25.6 billion)** for Google's Chrome internet browser. * **Rationale for the Bid:** Perplexity stated that moving Chrome to an independent operator committed to user safety would benefit the public. * **Google's Dominance and Scrutiny:** The bid comes amid intense scrutiny of Google's dominance in the search engine and online advertising market, including a ongoing antitrust case by the US Department of Justice. * **Potential Regulatory Impact:** A US federal judge is expected to issue a ruling this month that could potentially force Google to break up its search business. However, the success of Perplexity's bid is uncertain, as it's unclear if Google will be compelled to sell Chrome. * **Analyst Skepticism:** Venture capitalist Tomasz Tunguz from Theory Ventures believes the offer is significantly lower than Chrome's actual worth, estimating it could be "ten times more valuable than the bid or more." * **Google's Stance:** Google has not announced any plans to sell Chrome and has previously stated that spinning off Chrome would be an "unprecedented proposal" that would harm consumers and security, and that they would appeal such a ruling. * **Perplexity's AI Ambitions:** Perplexity is a rising player in the generative AI race, with its own AI-powered browser, Comet, launched recently. The bid is framed as a commitment to the "open web, user choice, and continuity." * **Proposed Integration:** If the takeover were successful, Perplexity would maintain Google as the default search engine in Chrome, with users having the option to change settings. They would also support Chromium, the open-source platform underpinning Chrome and other browsers. * **Funding Uncertainty:** Perplexity did not disclose how the proposed deal would be funded. * **Perplexity's Valuation:** In July, Perplexity had an estimated valuation of **$18 billion**. * **Previous Acquisition Interest:** Perplexity previously made headlines for offering to buy the American version of TikTok and has reportedly drawn interest from tech giants like Apple and Meta. --- ### Key Statistics and Metrics: * **Perplexity's Takeover Offer:** **$34.5 billion** (approximately £25.6 billion) * **Chrome Users:** Estimated **three billion-plus** users, making it the world's most popular web browser. * **Perplexity's Valuation (July):** Estimated **$18 billion** --- ### Important Recommendations: * None explicitly stated in the provided news excerpt. --- ### Significant Trends or Changes: * **Increased Scrutiny on Tech Giants:** The bid highlights the growing regulatory pressure on dominant technology companies like Google. * **AI Start-ups' Growing Influence:** Perplexity's bold move demonstrates the increasing ambition and potential financial clout of AI start-ups. * **Focus on User Safety and Open Web:** Perplexity's stated motivation emphasizes a trend towards prioritizing user safety and an open internet ecosystem. --- ### Notable Risks or Concerns: * **Uncertainty of Deal Success:** The bid's success is highly dependent on potential regulatory actions against Google and Google's willingness to sell Chrome. * **Valuation Discrepancy:** Analysts suggest Perplexity's offer significantly undervalues Chrome. * **Funding for the Acquisition:** The lack of disclosed funding mechanisms for the $34.5 billion bid raises questions. * **Google's Opposition:** Google has indicated strong opposition to any forced spin-off of Chrome. --- ### Material Financial Data: * **Perplexity's Offer:** **$34.5 billion** * **Perplexity's Estimated Valuation (July):** **$18 billion** * **Chrome's Estimated Value (Analyst Opinion):** Potentially "ten times more valuable than the bid or more."

AI start-up Perplexity makes surprise $34.5bn bid for Google Chrome

Read original at BBC →

Osmond ChiaBusiness reporter, BBC NewsReporting fromSingaporeArtificial intelligence (AI) start-up Perplexity has made a surprise $34.5bn (£25.6bn) takeover offer for Google's Chrome internet browser.Moving Chrome to an independent operator committed to user safety would benefit the public, Perplexity said in a letter to Sundar Pichai, the boss of Google's owner Alphabet.

Google's dominance of the search engine and online advertising market has come under intense scrutiny, with the technology giant facing a years-long antitrust case brought by the US Department of Justice.The BBC has contacted Google for comment. The firm has not announced any plans to sell Chrome - the world's most popular web browser with an estimated three billion-plus users.

A US federal judge is expected to issue a ruling this month that could see Google being ordered to break up its search business. But some analysts have said the bid is unlikely to be successful as it is still unclear whether or not Google will be forced to sell Chrome.Venture capitalist Tomasz Tunguz from Theory Ventures also told the BBC that the offer is a lot lower than the browser is worth "given the value of Chrome is likely significantly higher – maybe ten times more valuable than the bid or more."

The company has said it would appeal such a ruling, saying the idea of spinning off Chrome was an "unprecedented proposal" that would harm consumers and security.Perplexity's app is among the rising players in the generative AI race, alongside more well-known platforms like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini.

Last month, Perplexity launched an AI-powered browser called Comet. The bid marks an "important commitment to the open web, user choice, and continuity for everyone who has chosen Chrome," a spokesman for Perplexity told the BBC.As part of the proposed takeover, Perplexity said it would continue to have Google as the default search engine within Chrome, though users could adjust their settings.

The firm said it would also maintain and support Chromium, a widely-used open-source platform that supports Chrome and other browsers including Microsoft Edge and Opera.Perplexity did not respond to queries on how the proposed deal would be funded. In July, it had an estimated value of $18bn.The company made headlines earlier this year after offering to buy the American version of TikTok, which faces a deadline in September to be sold by its Chinese owner or be banned in the US.

Perplexity has reportedly drawn interest from technology giants including Apple and Facebook-owner Meta.

Analysis

Conflict+
Related Info+
Core Event+
Background+
Impact+
Future+

Related Podcasts

An AI copycat of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard went unnoticed on Spotify for weeks

An AI copycat of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard went unnoticed on Spotify for weeks

12/12/2025
McDonald’s Unveils a Highly Questionable AI-Generated Christmas Ad

McDonald’s Unveils a Highly Questionable AI-Generated Christmas Ad

12/12/2025
Where Winds Meet Player Has NSFW Chat Session With AI NPC

Where Winds Meet Player Has NSFW Chat Session With AI NPC

12/12/2025
View All Podcasts →