Aravind Srinivas' Perplexity offers $34.5 billion to buy it

14-Aug-2025

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Aravind Srinivas’ Perplexity AI has stunned the tech world with a $34.5 billion all-cash offer to buy Google Chrome, even though the browser is not officially on the market. 

The bid, far larger than Perplexity’s own $14 billion valuation, comes as the startup aims to secure a stronger foothold in the AI search race. Perplexity is known for making bold moves. 

Earlier this year, it offered to merge with TikTok’s US business to address concerns over Chinese ownership. 

Now, its sights are set on Chrome’s estimated three billion users, which would give Perplexity the scale to rival AI competitors like OpenAI.

The offer comes as Google faces mounting legal pressure in the United States over its dominance in online search, raising the possibility, however slim, that Chrome could be forced into new ownership.