Perplexity Proposes $34.5 Billion Purchase of Google Chrome
Artificial intelligence (AI) startup Perplexity has offered $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s popular Chrome browser. In a letter to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google’s parent company Alphabet, the startup stated that making Chrome an independent entity would “protect user safety and serve the public interest,” Reuters reported.
However, technology investors have described the proposal as a “stunt,” claiming Chrome’s actual market value is far higher. Google has not announced any plans to sell the browser.
Currently, Chrome is used by more than three billion people worldwide.
Perplexity said that, if the acquisition goes through, Google would remain the default search engine in Chrome, though users would have the option to change it. The company also pledged to continue supporting the open-source Chromium platform.
Last month, Perplexity launched “Comet,” an AI-powered browser, and had previously made an offer to purchase TikTok.
