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

OpenAI is reportedly in the early stages of creating a web browser to rival Google Chrome, according to The Information. This initiative comes at a time when Google is under scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which has suggested that Google should sell its Chrome browser to reduce its control over online search. The new browser is expected to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT, enhancing search capabilities and focusing on industries such as travel, food, real estate, and retail. This aligns with OpenAI’s broader strategy to expand its influence in the technology sector, particularly following the successful rollout of its SearchGPT tool for premium users earlier this month. OpenAI has engaged with various app developers and website operators, including Condé Nast and Redfin, to explore potential collaborations for the browser. Notably, Darin Fisher, a former Vice President of Engineering at Google and a key contributor to Chrome’s development, has recently joined OpenAI’s technical team. His expertise in browser architecture is expected to play a significant role in shaping OpenAI’s browser. Follow us (👉@artificialintelligenceee) for everything latest from the AI world. #ai #openai #googlechrome #webbrowser