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Perplexity AI might have just presented Alphabet/Google with a potential solution to ongoing antitrust issues related to the widespread use of Chrome browser.
Google’s Antitrust Concerns
Alphabet and Google have faced numerous antitrust lawsuits in recent years. In 2022, the European General Court largely upheld the European Commission’s €4.3 billion fine against the tech giant for abusing its Android dominance by requiring device makers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome.
In September 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice began a trial in Washington, DC, alleging anti-competitive practices for maintaining Google as the default search engine on browsers and smartphones through substantial payments to partners such as Apple. State attorneys general pursued parallel antitrust suits, focusing on Google’s advertising business and exclusionary agreements.
U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta ruled in 2024 that Alphabet’s Google violated antitrust laws by maintaining an illegal monopoly in the search sphere. This led to a remedy trial concluding early May 2025. While a final remedy is yet to be decided, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) wants Alphabet to divest Chrome and its open-source Chromium project.
Despite the DOJ lining up potential buyers like Yahoo, OpenAI, and Perplexity, Alphabet has argued that divesting Chrome would compromise user privacy and security due to Google’s proprietary technology embedded within the browser.
Judge Mehta is expected to rule by August 2025. Afterward, Alphabet is widely expected to appeal the decision while simultaneously pushing for an injunction against its implementation.
Alphabet also faces a remedy trial in Google’s ad tech case, where it was again found liable for maintaining an illegal monopoly.
Furthermore, Alphabet faces antitrust repercussions in the Epic vs. Google case, where a federal jury concluded in December 2023 that Google maintained a monopoly on Android app distribution and in-app billing services.
Perplexity Makes a $34.5 Billion Offer for Chrome
This brings us to the core of today’s topic. The Wall Street Journal is now reporting that Perplexity AI has submitted a $34.5 billion bid for Google Chrome. Interestingly, Perplexity itself is currently valued at around $18 billion.
While we do not know Chrome’s exact enterprise value, recent estimates have ranged between $20 billion and $50 billion. Perplexity AI’s bid falls near the middle of this range.
To sweeten its offer, Perplexity AI is committed to maintaining the open-source Chromium project.
However, it is important to note that Google has not communicated any willingness to accept Perplexity AI’s offer, and thus a deal is unlikely at this stage.
