Perplexity bid is ‘sparking debate on Chrome’s true value’
Time for a first bit of industry comment on that Perplexity bid perhaps.
Ben Barringer, global technology analyst at Quilter Cheviot, says it may just be a starting point to sound out a deal rather than an all-in take-it-or-leave-it offer.
“This bid from Perplexity is as much about making a statement as it is about securing a deal. With a U.S. judge expected to soon set out remedies in the Department of Justice’s case against Google, one possible outcome is a forced sale of Chrome,” Mr Barringer said.
“Perplexity, as an AI-driven search engine with its own browser, Comet, has been tactical in stepping forward now.
“The $34.5 billion offer is widely seen as undervaluing Chrome, so in many ways this is about starting the price discovery process. Owning Chrome would clearly be a win for Perplexity, given it competes directly with Google, but the question is whether Google would rather see it in the hands of a different buyer.
“At its core, this move speaks to three things: positioning ahead of potential remedies, sparking debate on Chrome’s true value, and increasing competitive pressure on Google.”
Karl Matchett13 August 2025 09:03
Perplexity’s bid is $34.5bn. Perplexity is worth $18bn. How does that work?
As noted earlier, the bid is $34.5bn – there are two sides to the question of this figure.
One is what Chrome is worth, which some experts believe is far, far higher than that.
The CEO of DuckDuckGo (another browser) recently testified in court that Chrome was worth $50bn in their view.
The other is what the buying company is worth – Perplexity is a private firm but it was valued at around $18bn, according to the Wall Street Journal.
They are seeking external partners to provide money to back the bid including big venture capital firms, reports the Times.
Karl Matchett13 August 2025 08:45
Google facing forced Chrome sale over antitrust probe
One key matter which has arisen within Perplexity’s bid is the fact that Google are currently facing the prospect of a forced sale of Chrome anyway.
They have not signalled intent to do so but a US federal judge will pass a ruling soon on whether they need to do so, from a long-running antitrust case.
Perplexity said in a latter to Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai, that the bid could offer a way around the issue, with it “designed to satisfy an antitrust remedy in highest public interest by placing Chrome with a capable, independent operator”.
Responding to BBC News, Perplexity also said the bid would be an “important commitment to the open web, user choice, and continuity for everyone who has chosen Chrome.”
Karl Matchett13 August 2025 08:24
Perplexity make $34.5bn bid for Chrome browser
Out of the blue, Google saw an offer made to it overnight for its Chrome browser.
The offer comes from AI firm Perplexity, which has its own browser if you don’t already know of the firm.
Their bid is for $34.5bn (about £25.5bn) and was reportedly an unsolicited offer, and there are several key factors at play here.
Chrome is estimated to be the world’s most popular browser, having an estimated three billion-plus users.
Karl Matchett13 August 2025 08:10