Perplexity Makes $34.5 Billion Move to Acquire Google Chrome Amid Possible Regulatory Push
AI firm Perplexity has made a $34.5 billion bid to buy Google’s Chrome, anticipating possible regulatory action, with plans to invest heavily and maintain user experience if the acquisition succeeds.
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Perplexity, an AI-powered company, has submitted an unexpected $34.5 billion offer to acquire Google's Chrome browser.The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg have reported the offer, which is timely given that Google may be pushed to sell Chrome as a result of ongoing legal challenges.
The proposal was given to Alphabet, Google's parent company, according to Perplexity.This action is in response to reports that Chrome was also sought by OpenAI, another significant AI company. Chrome, in conjunction with its open-source version, Chromium, is the most commonly used browser on desktop computers worldwide.
The timing of this proposal is crucial. A U.S. federal judge has determined that Google has an illegal monopoly on internet search. This ruling was made last year.The government proposed that Google be compelled to sell Chrome and share its search data with competitors as one of the potential remedies.
Perplexity, which raised $100 million earlier this year and is currently valued at $18 billion, claims that it has the necessary financial resources to finalize the deal. It is not the first time that Perplexity has implemented a bold strategy. The company also proposed a merger with TikTok's U.S. operations earlier this year in response to potential bans.
Additionally, Perplexity is developing its own AI-powered browser, Comet.The organization ensures that it will not implement any concealed modifications to the browser's functionality in the event that it acquires Chrome. Rather, it intends to invest $3 billion to Chrome and Chromium over the next two years. It also asserts that it will provide employment opportunities to a significant number of Chrome's current employees.
It is important to note that Perplexity has explicitly stated that the agreement does not involve any equity, which helps reduce antitrust concerns. If this agreement is carried out, it could represent one of the most significant changes in the internet browsing industry in recent years.
Information referenced in this article is from Business Today
