Perplexity AI's Bold $34.5 Billion Bid for Google Chrome

In a surprising turn, Perplexity AI has proposed a $34.5 billion acquisition of Google Chrome, even though the browser isn't on the market. Analysts view this as a strategic publicity maneuver, considering Chrome's critical position in Google's AI and search operations. The bid includes commitments to keep Chromium open-source and maintain Google Search as the default engine, with a $3 billion investment pledge. However, the offer is significantly below some valuations of Chrome, making acceptance unlikely. This move comes amid U.S. antitrust proceedings that could potentially force Google to divest Chrome, though such outcomes could take years. Perplexity, valued at $14 billion and backed by firms like Nvidia and SoftBank, has not disclosed detailed financing plans but claims full funding from unnamed sources. This bid echoes a previous failed merger offer to TikTok's U.S. division and may serve to increase visibility for Perplexity's own AI-integrated browser, Comet.