Overview
- Perplexity sent CEO Sundar Pichai a letter on August 12 proposing to buy Chrome for $34.5 billion and spin it off as a standalone business.
- The offer responds to an impending federal court ruling and DOJ demands for remedies to Google’s search monopoly, which could include divesting the browser.
- Chrome controls roughly 70% of the global web browser market, making any forced sale a major realignment of search distribution.
- Google has expressed opposition to divesting Chrome, emphasizing its role in supporting the company’s core advertising and data services.
- Perplexity faces ongoing copyright lawsuits from The Wall Street Journal publisher and Japanese newspapers, creating potential hurdles for financing and approval.