AI search startup Perplexity shocked the industry with an unsolicited $34.5 billion all-cash bid for Google’s Chrome browser—despite Chrome not being for sale. The offer comes as a US court weighs whether Google must divest Chrome after an antitrust ruling, and positions Perplexity as a ready operator if a spin-off is ordered. Even if the deal never closes, the move amplifies Perplexity’s profile, pressures Google, and underscores the growing importance of distribution channels alongside model quality in AI competition.
The AI search startup is launching a browser to pull users away from Google—turning its search engine into a full-fledged, AI-powered browsing experience.
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