Perplexity offers to buy Google Chrome for $34.5 billion

Perplexity has conscionable offered to bargain Google Chrome for $34.5 cardinal — a bid that’s acold much than the AI hunt startup itself is valued at, according to reports from The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg. The startup sent the unsolicited bid connected Tuesday, conscionable months aft Perplexity said it would bargain Chrome if the authorities forces Google to merchantability its browser.

The startup also offered to bargain TikTok earlier this year. Google hasn’t indicated that it would merchantability Chrome astatine immoderate price, and truthful far, the tribunal hasn’t ordered a sale.

Perplexity spokesperson Jesse Dwyer confirmed to The Verge that the WSJ’s reporting is accurate. The startup’s bid for Chrome stands successful stark opposition to the startup’s valuation of astir $18 billion. 

Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity’s main concern officer, told Bloomberg that “multiple ample concern funds person agreed to concern the transaction successful full.” A spokesperson for the startup besides told Bloomberg that Perplexity would put much than $3 cardinal successful Chrome and Chromium implicit the adjacent 2 years if Google accepts the deal.