Hasty Briefsbeta

Why Perplexity is going after Google Chrome – and yes, it's serious

11 days ago
  • #Google Chrome
  • #AI
  • #Perplexity
  • Perplexity made a $34.5 billion bid to buy Google's Chrome browser.
  • The acquisition would give Perplexity a gateway to the AI-driven web and enhance data collection for targeted advertising.
  • Perplexity's own browser, Comet, is built on Chromium, Chrome's open-source ancestor.
  • The bid is supported by major venture capital investors, including Accel, Softbank, and Bessemer, as well as Nvidia and Jeff Bezos.
  • Perplexity aims to 'out-Google' Google in search and sees Chrome as a strategic asset in the AI era.
  • A federal judge may force Google to divest Chrome due to antitrust concerns.
  • Experts are divided on the bid's rationale, with some calling it a strategic move and others questioning Chrome's standalone value.
  • Google is appealing the antitrust decision and does not want to sell Chrome.
  • The situation could spark a bidding war, with OpenAI also expressing interest in Chrome if it becomes available.