A.I. Start-Up Perplexity Bids $34.5 Billion For Google Chrome Browser

Artificial intelligence (A.I.) start-up company Perplexity has offered to buy Google’s (GOOGL) Chrome browser for $34.5 billion U.S.

The unsolicited bid is higher than privately held Perplexity’s current valuation of $18 billion U.S. However, several investors have reportedly agreed to back the deal to acquire Google Chrome.

Perplexity is known for it’s A.I.-powered search engine that gives users simple answers to questions and links to the source material on the internet.

In July of this year, Perplexity launched a new A.I.-powered browser called Comet.

The bid for the Google Chrome browser comes as Perplexity itself is the subject of takeover speculation.

Some analysts have called for Apple (AAPL) to buy Perplexity. And there have been reports that Meta (META) approached Perplexity about a potential acquisition, though no deal was reached.

Perplexity’s offer to buy Google Chrome also comes after the U.S. Department of Justice proposed that Alphabet divest the browser as part of its antitrust suit against the company.

A U.S. federal judge last year ruled that Google has an illegal monopoly in internet search.

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has not said how it plans to adjust its business following the antitrust ruling.

Chrome was launched in 2008 and provides the search giant with data that it then uses for targeted advertisements.

The Department of Justice said in a filing last year that forcing Alphabet to divest Chrome would create a more equal playing field for search engine competitors.

The judge in the antitrust case is expected to propose remedies later this year to help break Google’s online search monopoly.

GOOGL stock has risen 7% this year to trade at $203.34 U.S. a share.