Perplexity offered $34.5bn for Chrome browser amid antitrust pressure

Here's a story on the brink of reality: startup Perplexity, only three years in existence and valued at just $18bn, is offering to buy out Google's Chrome browser - and not for cheap, but for $34.5bn in cash.

Here's What We Know

There's an antitrust trial going on in the US, a court has found Google to be a monopoly in search, and the judge may require the sale of Chrome as part of the judgement. Perplexity has stated that such a deal is the best way to preserve fair competition and the interests of users.

Perplexity promises to keep the Chromium engine and open, and to stay out of the way with a forced search change - Google will remain the default search unless the user chooses a different one.

But sceptics are cautious: the offer is more than Perplexity itself is worth, and so far Google hasn't even signalled that it's willing to sell, and the trial could drag on indefinitely.

Google shares reacted moderately, +1%, but that's all prelude for now.

Source: Reuters