Google receives ‘longshot’ $34 billion supply for Chrome

U.S. antitrust regulators have been on a roll, and Google might quickly be compelled to promote its common Chrome browser, which is by far the main net browser amongst Individuals.

Now, Google has reportedly acquired a large ‘longshot’ supply from a shocking supply: Perplexity AI.

The Wall Road Journal broke the information at present that Perplexity AI has reportedly provided Google $34.5 billion to purchase Chrome, which is shocking for a couple of causes. Most notably, Perplexity itself is simply valued at $18 billion, the Journal studies. Second, whereas the precise valuation of Chrome just isn’t recognized, some estimates place the online browser’s worth at both $20 or $50 billion, relying on who’s asking.

Perplexity is greatest generally known as an AI-powered search engine, however the firm not too long ago launched Comet, an agentic AI browser.

So, how would Perplexity AI fund this supply? Based on the Wall Road Journal, Perplexity has the backing of a number of venture-capital funds and different buyers, who would again their supply.

OpenAI has additionally reportedly expressed curiosity in shopping for Google Chrome, although it is unclear if Google can be keen to promote such a well-liked asset to its chief AI rival.

All of that is unfolding as tech corporations brace for the ripple results of the Division of Justice’s landmark antitrust case in opposition to Google. Certainly, Google is unlikely to promote Chrome until compelled to take action.

The antitrust case over Google’s monopoly of the search market decided that Google “illegally [monopolized] the search engine and search promoting markets.” Google has already misplaced that case, and now U.S. District Choose Amit Mehta is weighing potential cures, one of the dramatic being a compelled sale of Chrome.

On the identical time, main tech corporations need to a post-Google Search net economic system and making an attempt to get a head begin within the race for AI browser dominance

Many analysts suppose a sale of Google Chrome is finally unlikely, however that hasn’t stopped rivals like Perplexity from shifting quick to place their title within the hat. On high of the Chrome query, Choose Mehta might additionally prohibit Google’s means to pay for default search engine placement on browsers and units — a transfer that reportedly had Apple eyeing Perplexity as a possible acquisition goal within the first place.

Chrome boasts roughly 3.5 billion customers worldwide and instructions greater than 60 % of the worldwide browser market — a dominance that makes any discuss of a compelled sale one of the consequential antitrust cures in tech historical past.