In a significant move, AI search startup Perplexity has made an unsolicited bid of $34.5 billion to acquire Google Chrome, a figure that exceeds the company’s current valuation of approximately $18 billion. This offer, confirmed by Perplexity spokesperson Jesse Dwyer, comes shortly after the startup expressed interest in purchasing Chrome should a court mandate Google to divest the browser due to ongoing antitrust proceedings.
The bid has garnered attention as it represents a considerable premium over Perplexity's valuation. According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg, Perplexity’s chief business officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, has indicated that several large investment funds have committed to fully finance the acquisition. Furthermore, Shevelenko stated that Perplexity intends to invest over $3 billion in the Chrome and Chromium platforms within two years if the acquisition proceeds.
Despite the ambitious nature of the offer, Google has yet to respond and has not signaled any intention to sell Chrome, irrespective of the proposed price. The current legal landscape surrounding Google's business practices continues to evolve, and no court order has been issued to compel a sale.
This development follows Perplexity's earlier bid for TikTok, highlighting the startup's aggressive expansion strategy in the tech sector. The outcome of this unsolicited offer remains uncertain, especially given the complexities of regulatory scrutiny and market dynamics.