Perplexity, the AI search startup that hasn’t even cracked 100 million monthly users, just made a $34.5 billion cash offer to buy Chrome from Google.
The unsolicited bid comes as the DOJ prepares its remedy decision after ruling Google illegally maintained a search monopoly. The timing makes sense, but questions remain. Perplexity won’t name its backers for the massive deal, and the offer is worth far more than the company has raised.
The move fits Perplexity’s broader push for distribution after earning plenty of buzz in tech circles but struggling with mainstream user adoption. The company has also explored acquiring Brave browser and launched its own AI-powered browser, Comet. Whether this Chrome play is serious or just a stunt is still up for debate.
On Equity, we’re revisiting a conversation with Neil Chilson, a lawyer, computer scientist and head of AI Policy at the Abundance Institute, to unpack what’s at stake for Google in its search and ad tech battles, and how generative AI could reshape competition in the space.
As always, Equity will be back for you next week, so don’t miss it!
Equity is TechCrunch’s flagship podcast, produced by Theresa Loconsolo, and posts every Wednesday and Friday.
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Perplexity’s bid for Google Chrome could be just the beginning
