Led by CEO Aravind Srinivas, Perplexity has a track record of headline-grabbing proposals, earlier this year it floated a plan to merge with TikTok's U.S. operations. This time, its target is Chrome, the world's most-used web browser, with an estimated three billion users.
Google has not put Chrome up for sale and did not immediately respond to the offer. However, the U.S. Department of Justice has previously suggested that divesting Chrome could be an appropriate remedy in an ongoing antitrust case. A federal judge's ruling on potential remedies is expected later this month.
Perplexity sees Chrome as a way to accelerate its ambitions in AI-driven search. Its own browser, Comet, already integrates AI tools, but acquiring Chrome could give the startup a massive user base and direct control over one of the most important gateways to internet search and user data.
According to a term sheet seen by Reuters, Perplexity's bid would keep Chrome's underlying open-source Chromium code available, invest $3 billion over two years, and retain Google as the default search engine, moves the startup says would protect user choice and address competition concerns.
Funding the deal remains a question. Perplexity has raised around $1 billion from backers such as Nvidia and SoftBank, but sources say multiple investment funds have offered to finance the acquisition in full.
Industry analysts doubt Google will part with Chrome, given its strategic role in defending Google's search market share and integrating AI features like AI-generated summaries. Rival companies, including OpenAI, Yahoo, and Apollo Global Management, have also shown interest should Chrome ever become available.
