BREAKING: Perplexity just made a $34.5 billion bid to buy Google Chrome. And it’s the most audacious power move in tech history.

This isn’t some random startup dreaming big. This is a calculated strike at Google’s empire at the exact moment they’re most vulnerable.

Here’s what actually happened:

Perplexity sent an all-cash $34.5 billion acquisition proposal directly to Sundar Pichai for Chrome. Not a casual inquiry – a formal, unsolicited bid with specific terms.

The timing? Absolutely perfect.

Google is waiting for antitrust remedies that could force them to sell Chrome anyway. Perplexity just positioned themselves as the ready buyer.

The scale of this move is insane:

Chrome has 3.4-3.7 billion users worldwide and commands 60-67% of global browser share.

This isn’t just buying a browser. This is buying the front door to the internet.

Perplexity’s strategy is brilliant:

☑ Keep Chromium open-source
☑ Retain most Chrome staff
☑ Maintain Google as default search
☑ Invest $3 billion into the product over two years

They’re basically saying: “We won’t break what you love about Chrome. We’ll just make it better.”

But here’s what most people are missing:

This isn’t really about buying Chrome. This is about positioning in the AI-search war.

Think about it:

→ Control Chrome = control how billions access information
→ Control the browser = control the AI agent future
→ Control defaults = control where ad dollars flow

Perplexity isn’t just buying a browser. They’re buying distribution for AI-powered search.

The antitrust judo is genius:

If judges want to break up Google’s search monopoly, selling Chrome to an AI search competitor is the perfect remedy.

Perplexity just made themselves the obvious buyer before the court even orders a sale.

The math is wild:

$34.5 billion for 3.5+ billion users works out to about $10 per user. For the most valuable software distribution platform on Earth.

That’s either the deal of the century or a massive lowball designed to start negotiations.

Even if this bid fails, Perplexity already won.

They’ve positioned themselves as the company ready to replace Google’s browser dominance. They’ve shown they have the vision and resources to think at Google’s scale.

And they’ve planted the seed that Chrome could have a different owner.

Even if Google never sells Chrome, Perplexity has already won attention and positioning in the AI-search battle.

They’ve announced to the world that they’re not just another search engine – they’re ready to replace Google’s entire web infrastructure.

Image Credit: Indian Startup News (Facebook)