Artificial-intelligence startup Perplexity has offered to purchase Google's Chrome browser for $34.5 billion amid an ongoing internet search antitrust case vs. Alphabet, according to reports. Google stock rose Tuesday amid the news.
Perplexity's offer is significantly more than its own valuation, which is estimated at $18 billion. Perplexity said several investors have agreed to back a Chrome deal.
Judge Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia in a 2024 ruling declared Google a monopolist in internet search. Mehta ruled that Alphabet illegally maintained a monopoly over online search services and prevented rivals from developing their own products.
Mehta earlier this year held hearings over what legal remedies should be taken.
The Department of Justice has asked Mehta to order Alphabet to sell its Chrome browser. Google is likely to appeal the 2024 ruling as well as whatever Mehta does in terms of legal remedies.
"We suppose it's plausible for investors to regard this as potentially raising the odds of a forced sale of Chrome, however, we don't think this type of pre-emptive action would influence the judge," said RBC Capital analyst Brad Erickson in a report. "Further, the potential values being thrown out seem low, in our view — potentially by an order of magnitude given the value unlock it arguably provides for Google.
He added that well financed OpenAI would be a more formidable bidder for the Chrome product. "We believe the judge is fully aware there are willing and able buyers — one in particular with a valuation of more than 15 times that of Perplexity," Erickson said.
On the stock market today, Google stock rose more than 1% to 203.93 in midday trading. Google stock has gained nearly 7% in 2025, rebounding from a lackluster first half of the year
The antitrust case has loomed over Google stock. The impact of generative artificial intelligence on the internet search advertising business of Google remains another key issue for investors.
Follow Reinhardt Krause on X, formerly Twitter @reinhardtk_tech for updates on artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and cloud computing.
