Artificial intelligence startup Perplexity AI has made an unsolicited bid to purchase Google’s Chrome browser for $34.5 billion, CNBC confirmed Tuesday.

This offer surpasses Perplexity’s own valuation. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report the proposal. Google did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

Funding and Valuation: How Perplexity Plans to Finance the Deal

Perplexity, valued at $18 billion in July, said several venture investors have agreed to back the $34.5 billion deal, which exceeds its current valuation of $18 billion, up from $14 billion months earlier.

Antitrust Context: DOJ’s Push for Google to Divest Chrome

The bid comes after the U.S. Department of Justice proposed Google divest Chrome as part of an antitrust suit Google lost last year.

The DOJ said Google has held an illegal monopoly in internet search and argued divesting Chrome “will permanently stop Google’s control of this critical search access point and allow rival search engines the ability to access the browser.”

Google called the DOJ’s proposal “wildly overbroad” and a “radical interventionist agenda.”

Perplexity’s Strategic Moves in the AI and Tech Landscape

Perplexity is known for its AI-powered search engine that offers simple answers with links to original sources. Last month, it launched its AI-powered browser called Comet.

Earlier this year, Meta approached Perplexity about a potential acquisition, but no deal was finalized.

Perplexity also submitted a proposal to merge with TikTok in January, but as of August, that plan has not materialized.

Industry Impact: What the Chrome Sale Means for Search Competition

Chrome, launched by Google in 2008, provides data that Google uses for ad targeting.

The DOJ said divesting Chrome would create a more equal playing field for search competitors by removing Google’s control over a major internet gateway.

PHOTO: UNSPLASH

This article was created with AI assistance.