Overview

• Perplexity AI has sent Google a formal letter of intent to acquire Chrome for $34.5 billion, nearly twice its own $18 billion valuation.
• In its proposal, Perplexity commits to substantial investment in Chrome, retention offers for key employees, ongoing support for the Chromium project, and a promise not to covertly alter the browser’s default search engine.
• Google and CEO Sundar Pichai have stated that Chrome is not for sale and announced plans to appeal the DOJ’s antitrust ruling before any divestiture could proceed.
• Analysts express skepticism about Perplexity’s financing plan, noting that investor backing has not been finalized and that the bid exceeds the startup’s market worth.
• The judge’s imminent remedies ruling could mandate a Chrome divestiture but may be postponed by anticipated appeals that could stretch for months or years.