13 August 2025
If you are covering the news about Perplexity's bid for Google Chrome, please see the following comment from Ben Barringer, global technology analyst at Quilter Cheviot:
“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. 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.”
