In an unexpected move that has sent ripples through the technology sector, Perplexity AI, a three-year-old artificial intelligence startup headquartered in San Francisco, has made an all-cash offer of $34.5 billion to acquire Google Chrome. The proposal, led by Chennai-born CEO Aravind Srinivas, far exceeds the company’s own estimated valuation of $14–18 billion.
The bid also comes with strategic promises: a $3 billion investment over two years to enhance Chrome’s development, a pledge to keep Chromium open-source, and a guarantee to maintain Google as the browser’s default search engine. While unconventional for a relatively young company, the move signals Perplexity’s ambition to position itself as a major force in the AI-powered internet browsing space.
The Antitrust Backdrop
Perplexity’s timing is notable, coinciding with a U.S. federal court ruling that found Google guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly in online search. One of the remedies under consideration includes the forced divestiture of Chrome, a browser with over three billion active users worldwide.
Perplexity AI has framed its offer as a public-interest solution, suggesting that an independent steward for Chrome could boost competition and innovation. The company also faces potential rivals for the deal, with tech heavyweights like OpenAI and Yahoo reportedly interested if Chrome becomes available.
However, industry watchers warn that the process could be lengthy. Google is widely expected to challenge any order to sell Chrome, with legal appeals likely stretching from the D.C. Circuit to the Supreme Court. For now, Google has made no formal response to Perplexity AI proposal, instead focusing on defending its search and browser dominance in court.
The Man Behind the Bid
At the heart of this bold play is Aravind Srinivas, a Chennai-born entrepreneur whose journey from local classrooms to Silicon Valley boardrooms has been defined by calculated risk-taking and an eye for disruption. After completing his engineering studies in India, Aravind Srinivas pursued advanced research in machine learning at UC Berkeley, supplemented by internships at DeepMind, OpenAI, and Google.
In August 2022, he co-founded Perplexity AI with Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski, launching an AI-driven answer engine designed to provide conversational, context-aware search results. The company also operates its AI-integrated browser, Comet, which hints at how Srinivas might reshape Chrome if the deal goes through.
This $34.5 billion bid underscores not only Perplexity’s AI ambitions but also Srinivas’s readiness to challenge tech’s most entrenched players. Whether the offer succeeds or not, it cements his reputation as one of the most daring young leaders in the AI space.
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