Overview

• Perplexity unveiled an unsolicited $34.5 billion cash offer for Google’s Chrome browser as part of antitrust remedies after a judge ruled Google unlawfully monopolized search and advertising.
• The AI startup claims support from unnamed investment funds to finance the transaction and plans to invest roughly $3 billion in Chrome’s development over the next two years.
• Perplexity would keep Chromium open source and retain Google as the default search provider to address regulatory concerns.
• Google opposes any divestiture of Chrome, warning of cybersecurity risks and operational disruptions, and has signaled it will appeal if a sale is mandated.
• Analysts largely view the bid as a strategic signal and predict that any forced sale would enter years of legal appeals, with other suitors like OpenAI and Yahoo poised to join a potential bidding process.