Startups Can’t Take on Big Tech? Tell That to Perplexity

A startup worth $18B just offered $34.5B for Chrome.
Yes, you read that right.

Perplexity—best known for its AI-powered search—sent an unsolicited bid to Google to buy Chrome, the browser used by over 3 billion people worldwide.

Why now? A U.S. federal judge recently ruled Google holds an illegal monopoly in search. One proposed remedy: force Google to sell Chrome. Perplexity’s timing is no accident.

Here’s what’s on the table:

• Keep Chromium open-source

• Keep Google as the default search engine

• Invest $3B into Chrome’s development over 2 years

The catch?

• Perplexity’s bid is almost double its own valuation

• Analysts say Chrome could be worth $100B

• Google has zero interest in selling—unless a court forces it

So, is this the most ambitious acquisition attempt in tech… or just a marketing stunt to get Perplexity’s name next to Chrome in every headline?

Either way, they’ve already won the attention game.
Your move, Google.