In a bold and unexpected move, Perplexity AI—an AI startup led by Indian-origin CEO Aravind Srinivas—has reportedly offered $34.5 billion (over ₹3.02 lakh crore) in cash to acquire Google Chrome. The unsolicited bid, first reported by Reuters, has sent shockwaves through the tech industry, especially since it far exceeds Perplexity’s own $14 billion valuation.
Why Such a Huge Offer?
Perplexity, a three-year-old AI company backed by major investors like Nvidia and SoftBank, claims it has secured commitments from multiple funds to finance the deal entirely. While the specifics remain undisclosed, the sheer size of the offer underscores the company’s ambition to disrupt the browser and AI search market.
The timing is also significant. Google is currently under regulatory scrutiny, with the US Justice Department pushing for remedies after a court ruled that the tech giant holds an unlawful monopoly in online search. One proposed solution? Forcing Google to sell Chrome. Though Google plans to appeal, the legal battle could drag on for years—potentially reaching the Supreme Court.
Perplexity’s Vision for Chrome
If the acquisition goes through, Perplexity has promised to:
✅ Keep Chrome’s Chromium code open-source
✅ Invest $3 billion in browser development over two years
✅ Retain Chrome’s default search engine settings
The company argues that this approach would preserve user choice while easing antitrust concerns. However, Perplexity isn’t the only player eyeing Chrome—rivals like OpenAI, Yahoo, and Apollo Global Management have also shown interest. DuckDuckGo’s CEO even estimates Chrome’s forced-sale value could exceed $50 billion.
The Rise of Perplexity AI
Founded in 2022 by Srinivas and his team, Perplexity has quickly made a name for itself with its AI-powered conversational search engine, which provides real-time, cited answers. The startup recently launched Comet, its own AI browser, but acquiring Chrome would give it access to over 3 billion users worldwide—supercharging its ability to compete with OpenAI and other AI giants.
Who Is Aravind Srinivas?
A Chennai-born IIT Madras alumnus, Srinivas previously worked at Google and trained under AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio before co-founding Perplexity in San Francisco. Under his leadership, the company has expanded globally, even partnering with Bharti Airtel in 2025 to offer 360 million Indian users free access to Perplexity Pro.
What’s Next?
While Google has given no indication of selling Chrome, the offer highlights the growing tension between traditional tech giants and ambitious AI startups. Whether this bid leads to a deal or not, one thing is clear—the battle for the future of search is heating up.
Would you like to see Chrome under new ownership? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
(For more tech updates, stay tuned to our website!)
Follow the IndiaWorld.in channel on WhatsApp:https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb3l9160AgWKgQeRCy0a
Read also : Brevis Blitz Powers South Africa to 53-Run Win Over Australia in 2nd T20I
Read also : New Income Tax Bill 2025: Approved in Lok Sabha.. What Are the Key Changes?
Read also : Elon Musk Threatens Legal Action Against Apple
