AI startup Perplexity has made an unsolicited $34.5 billion all-cash bid to acquire Google’s Chrome browser, aiming to capitalize on a pending U.S. antitrust ruling that could force Google to divest the product. The offer, more than double Perplexity’s own $18 billion valuation, is backed by unnamed venture capital firms, according to the company.⁠ ⁠ Perplexity’s proposal, dubbed “Project Solomon,” pledges to keep Chrome’s underlying open-source Chromium project intact, invest $3 billion over two years in performance, security, and support, and make no changes to default search settings. The company also promises 100 months of continued user support and job offers to key Chrome staff, while maintaining interoperability with existing web standards and partner integrations.⁠ ⁠ The Justice Department is seeking Chrome’s sale after a federal court ruled Google maintained an illegal search monopoly through default-search deals with Apple, Samsung, and others. Judge Amit Mehta is expected to decide on remedies this month, though analysts say legal appeals could stretch for years. During the trial, several tech rivals, including OpenAI and DuckDuckGo, expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, signaling strong market appetite for the browser.⁠ ⁠ Skepticism runs high on Wall Street. Some analysts call the bid a publicity play, noting Chrome could be worth $50–$100 billion or more. Google has signaled it will fight any forced divestiture, arguing a sale could harm browser security and reliability.⁠ ⁠ Perplexity, founded in 2022, recently launched Comet, an AI-powered browser that integrates its “answer engine” directly into web navigation. Acquiring Chrome’s three-billion-plus users could supercharge its challenge to Google and rivals like OpenAI. Whether this bold gambit leads to a sale, or remains a headline grab, may hinge on the court’s next move.⁠ ⁠ #tech #google #chrome #ai #perplexity #antitrust #webbrowser #opensource #searchengine #technologynews #bigtech #innovation #startupnews #digitalprivacy

There is immense power in being in control of your own data. As ownership and governance of apps and online services consolidate, it’s understandable if you want to consider your options when it comes to where you store your private data and records of your everyday activities. Fortunately, not every service out there is trying to monetize your personal data, and many offerings are just as good (if not often better) as their commercial or ad-supported rivals. Take a minute to think about what you’d want to leave behind. Big Tech giants that hoard your data? Subscription services? Invasive ad tracking? Government surveillance? Your needs and risks are unique to you, but hopefully a few of these recommendations help to hit the spot. Read about the alternatives at the link in the bio 👆 Article by Zack Whittaker Image Credits: Scott Webb / Pexels #TechCrunch #technews #apps #cybersecurity #opensource #privacy #productivity #security