Perplexity has officially expressed its intention to acquire Google Chrome browser if the antitrust authority forces Google to sell.
During the hearings in the antitrust case, a loud statement was made: Perplexity, the developer of the AI-search engine, confirmed its readiness to buy the Chrome browser if Google is forced to sell it. OpenAI, which wants to integrate Chrome with ChatGPT to create a next-generation browser, also announced its interest in the acquisition.
Key quotes:
– Dmitry Shevelenko (Perplexity): *”We will be happy to take on this project”*
– Nick Turley (OpenAI): *”It will be an incredible experience – a browser with AI at its core”*
The trial against Google is ongoing: the company is accused of creating a monopoly in the search and advertising sectors, among the possible solutions of the US government – a forced division of assets, including Chrome.
While Perplexity does not support a full separation of the company, it has publicly stated: *”We want to stay smart, but Google has too much power.”
Chrome has become a key element of the Google ecosystem. It has more than 60% market share and is the default browser on Android. This has been the subject of numerous complaints from competitors. Perplexity complains about Google blocking access to the market: in particular, an attempt to pre-install Perplexity Assistant on Motorola smartphones failed due to Android restrictions. Even if the assistant was chosen as the default, Chrome and Google Search still had priority.
A possible sale of Chrome could radically change the Internet landscape. If OpenAI or Perplexity acquire this asset, we will see a new type of browser – focused on AI, personalization and competition. This is both a challenge and an opportunity – for both users and the digital market.
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