The Big Swing
Perplexity, the AI-powered search startup, stunned the tech world by making a $34.5 billion all-cash offer to acquire Google Chrome. The timing wasn’t random: in March, the Department of Justice proposed that Google should be forced to divest Chrome after a court ruled it had illegally maintained a monopoly in online search. Google is fighting the ruling, but if a sale were mandated, Chrome would be up for grabs.
On paper, Perplexity says it would keep Chromium (Chrome’s open-source engine) free, invest $3 billion into the project, and leave Google Search as the default in Chrome. In other words, they’re promising not to rip Chrome away from its users.
The real story is not in the fine print. It’s in the money.
Where Is $34.5 Billion Coming From?
Perplexity has raised about $1.5 billion in total, and its latest valuation sits at around $18–20 billion. Yet in 2025, it has already announced bids worth $64–85 billion: Chrome for $34.5 billion and TikTok’s U.S. operations for another $30–50 billion.
That’s several times more than the company is worth.
Perplexity insists it has commitments from major investors willing to fund these purchases, but it has not released names, contracts, or proof of funds. Until then, these “all-cash” offers read more like bold headlines than bankable deals.
Which brings us to the central question: is this real strategy or just showmanship?
Trust and the Consumer Question
Corporations don’t throw around money without expecting a return. If Perplexity actually has access to tens of billions in cash, then its backers deserve scrutiny. Who is funding them, and what expectations will come with that money?
If the offers are not real, then it’s worse. It’s a stunt. A marketing ploy dressed up as ambition. And that hurts trust.
For me, Perplexity worked better as a scrappy AI search engine. Something I could test, compare to Google, maybe even root for. But once you start talking about buying Chrome and TikTok in the same breath, I stop seeing focus and start seeing distraction. Why should I trust Perplexity with my search data if their biggest moves look like theater?
The Data Problem
Let’s imagine, for a moment, that Perplexity did buy Chrome. The browser controls about 68% of global market share. It is, effectively, the gateway to the internet. That means billions of people’s browsing data.
Can Perplexity be trusted with that? That depends almost entirely on the mystery investors footing the bill. Money shapes control, and control shapes privacy.
Meanwhile, Perplexity already has a browser, Comet, that reportedly requires root-level access to a computer. That alone raises red flags. Why should consumers install software that burrows that deeply into their machines?
Not All Press Is Good Press
Some argue that Perplexity is just getting free headlines. Not every headline is helpful. Look at politics: when Donald Trump refuses to release the Epstein files, is the coverage good for him? Absolutely not. It highlights distrust. The same logic applies here.
Perplexity may have wanted attention, but it’s the wrong kind. Instead of sparking excitement, it sparks doubt.
Focus Over Fantasy
Instead of floating $50 billion deals, Perplexity could be doubling down on what actually matters:
- Making its AI search more accurate.
- Proving it saves people time.
- Giving content creators reasons to embrace it.
- Building trust through transparency, not theatrics.
Big acquisitions make headlines. Accuracy, speed, and trust win users.
Perplexity’s Chrome bid raises the right kind of questions but gives the wrong kind of answers. Either it’s a reckless stunt or a sign that unseen money is driving the company’s future. Neither inspires confidence.
If Perplexity really wants to compete with Google, it should stop pretending to be a Wall Street whale and start proving it can be the best search engine in the world.
