Perplexity AI CEO Offers $34.5 Billion to Buy Google Chrome

In a move that startled the tech world, Perplexity AI — a fast-growing startup known for AI-powered search — made an unsolicited all-cash offer of $34.5 billion to acquire Google’s Chrome browser. The bid arrived amid ongoing antitrust scrutiny of Google and has been framed by Perplexity as a way to accelerate competition in browsers and search.

What the offer is …

Perplexity’s offer is an unsolicited proposal: that means Perplexity publicly said it is willing to pay $34.5 billion to buy Chrome even though Google has not put Chrome up for sale. Perplexity says it can fund the deal with investor backing and that it would keep the browser largely familiar to users while opening it to new AI features. Observers call the move bold and note it’s far larger than Perplexity’s latest valuation — which raised questions about who is backing the startup and how likely Google is to accept.

 

Why this is in the news

The timing matters: U.S. regulators have increased antitrust pressure on Google, and a recent court ruling and government actions have rekindled talk of potential remedies that could include forcing Alphabet to divest assets. A sale of Chrome would be unusual — Chrome is tightly integrated into Google’s products and ad ecosystem — so industry analysts are skeptical this will actually happen, but the bid has already reshaped headlines and investor conversations.

Who is Perplexity’s CEO?

Perplexity’s co-founder and CEO is Aravind (Arvind) Srinivas . He is the public face of the company, often speaking about AI, product strategy, and competition with larger incumbents. Srinivas has been profiled by multiple outlets since Perplexity’s rise and has appeared at conferences and university events to discuss AI and product vision.

Education: Srinivas studied in India and the U.S. — he holds degrees from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras (dual degrees in engineering) and went on to do advanced study and research in machine learning and reinforcement learning at the University of California, Berkeley.

Career and research: Before Perplexity, Srinivas worked in research roles at major AI labs and completed influential academic work in reinforcement learning and representation learning. In 2022 he co-founded Perplexity with other AI researchers and engineers; the company focuses on conversational search and tools that combine web retrieval with large-language-model reasoning. His background mixes academic research papers, internships/roles at top AI organizations, and startup building.

What Perplexity says it will do with Chrome

Perplexity’s public statements (and related reporting) say the startup would not radically change the basic Chrome experience for users, at least immediately, but would invest in AI features and openness that could let other AI tools integrate more deeply with browsing. Critics point out Chrome’s role in Google’s ad business and search funnel — selling Chrome would be complicated legally and commercially.

Industry reaction and the big questions

• Is Chrome actually for sale? Most analysts say no — Google has not indicated it will sell Chrome, and the browser is core to Alphabet’s strategy.
• Can a startup afford a $34.5B deal? Perplexity’s valuation has been reported as much lower than the offer; reporters say Perplexity claims investor support, but details are scarce and analysts call it a long shot without deeper-pocketed partners.
• Is this a publicity/strategy play? Some observers suggest the move advances Perplexity’s negotiating position and public profile amid the AI search race.

Quick timeline

— Perplexity was founded (2022) and rose as an AI search challenger.

— In the last week Perplexity publicly offered $34.5 billion to buy Chrome amid antitrust developments. Media outlets including Reuters and the Wall Street Journal reported the unsolicited bid.

Top FAQs

Q: Did Google agree to sell Chrome?

A: No. Google has not agreed to sell Chrome; the offer is unsolicited and media coverage indicates Google is expected to resist a sale because Chrome is strategically important.

Q: Is $34.5 billion realistic for Perplexity?

A: The amount is real as an offer but appears far above Perplexity’s most recently reported valuation. Reports say Perplexity claims investor backing, but many analysts find the bid surprising and question its feasibility.

Q: Who is Aravind Srinivas and what qualifies him to lead this?

A: Aravind Srinivas is Perplexity’s co-founder and CEO with strong academic credentials (IIT Madras, PhD work at Berkeley) and research experience at top AI labs. He has led Perplexity’s product and fundraising efforts since the startup’s founding.

Q: Could regulators force Google to sell Chrome?

A: In extreme antitrust remedies regulators can force divestitures, but forcing the sale of a core product like Chrome would be legally and technically complex and is not a guaranteed outcome of current cases.

Q: What happens next?

A: Expect public statements from Google and closer scrutiny from regulators and investors. Deals of this scale require negotiations, due diligence, and regulatory approval — any realistic path would be long and uncertain. Media coverage will likely continue as the situation develops.