\n<\/p>\n
Artificial intelligence (AI) start-up Perplexity has made a surprise $34.5bn (\u00a325.6bn) takeover bid for Google’s Chrome internet browser.<\/p>\n
Moving Chrome to an independent operator committed to user safety would benefit the public, Perplexity said in a letter to Sundar Pichai, the boss of Google’s owner Alphabet.<\/p>\n
But one technology industry investor called the offer a “stunt” that is a much lower than Chrome’s true value and highlighted that it is not clear whether the platform would is even for sale.<\/p>\n
The BBC has contacted Google for comment. The firm has not announced any plans to sell Chrome – the world’s most popular web browser with an estimated three billion-plus users.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Google’s dominance of the search engine and online advertising market has come under intense scrutiny, with the technology giant embroiled in years of legal wrangling as part of two antitrust cases.<\/p>\n
A US federal judge is expected to issue a ruling this month that could see Google being ordered to break up its search business.<\/p>\n
The company has said it would appeal such a ruling, saying the idea of spinning off Chrome was an “unprecedented proposal” that would harm consumers and security.<\/p>\n
A spokesman for Perplexity told the BBC that its bid marks an “important commitment to the open web, user choice, and continuity for everyone who has chosen Chrome.”<\/p>\n
As part of the proposed takeover, Perplexity said it would continue to have Google as the default search engine within Chrome, though users could adjust their settings.<\/p>\n
The firm said it would also maintain and support Chromium, a widely-used open-source platform that supports Chrome and other browsers including Microsoft Edge and Opera.<\/p>\n
Perplexity did not respond to queries about how the proposed deal would be funded. In July, it had an estimated value of $18bn.<\/p>\n
Technology industry investor and start-up founder Heath Ahrens called Perplexity’s move a “stunt, and nowhere near Chrome’s true value, given its unmatched data and reach.”<\/p>\n
“The offer isn’t serious, but if someone like Sam Altman or Elon Musk tripled it, they could genuinely secure dominance for their AI,” he added.<\/p>\n
It is also not clear whether Google is considering selling the platform, Tomasz Tunguz from Theory Ventures told the BBC.<\/p>\n
He also said the offer is a lot lower than the browser is worth “given the value of Chrome is likely significantly higher \u2013 maybe ten times more valuable than the bid or more.”<\/p>\n
Perplexity’s app is among the rising players in the generative AI race, alongside more well-known platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.<\/p>\n
Last month, it launched an AI-powered browser called Comet. <\/p>\n
The company made headlines earlier this year after offering to buy the American version of TikTok, which faces a deadline in September to be sold by its Chinese owner or be banned in the US.<\/p>\n
Perplexity has reportedly drawn interest from technology giants including Apple and Facebook-owner Meta.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n