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AI Startup Perplexity Makes Waves With $34.5B Chrome Acquisition Bid | N18G

Last week, AI search engine Perplexity, led by CEO Aravind Srinivas, made an unsolicited \$34.5 billion bid to buy Google Chrome, despite having a valuation of only \$18 billion. This raised skepticism, as Chrome is not for sale, and legal proceedings around a potential breakup of Google are still ongoing. If Chrome were ever spun off, analysts believe it would be valued much higher, and major players like OpenAI, Microsoft, and Apple would likely outbid Perplexity. Chrome dominates the global browser market with over 66% share and 3.5 billion users, making it highly valuable for its user data. Meanwhile, Perplexity and others are launching AI-powered "Agentic" browsers, though their subscription-only model limits adoption. Many see Perplexity’s bid as a strategic move to gain attention and attract investors, rather than a serious acquisition attempt. It highlights the company’s ambition but also its need to stay competitive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

first published: Aug 18, 2025 04:11 pm