Amidst mounting antitrust pressure on Google, AI search engine startup Perplexity AI has expressed interest in acquiring Google's Chrome browser should the tech giant be compelled to divest it. This comes as the US Department of Justice (DOJ) intensifies its antitrust lawsuit against Google, alleging that the company has an illegal monopoly in online search and advertising. The DOJ is seeking remedies that could fundamentally reshape Google's business, including the forced sale of Chrome.
Perplexity AI's Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, testified in court that his company would be eager to take over Chrome, emphasizing that Perplexity AI could sustain the browser’s development without compromising service quality or introducing user fees. He voiced reservations about OpenAI acquiring Chrome, cautioning that if OpenAI were to cease supporting the open-source Chromium project or abandon its open model, it could result in considerable disruption.
The potential sale of Chrome has attracted significant attention, with its estimated value ranging from $15 billion to $20 billion. Chrome boasts over 3 billion monthly active users, making it a strategic asset in the digital ecosystem. For Perplexity, acquiring Chrome would provide a massive user base and a platform to integrate its AI-powered search and assistant technologies directly into the browsing experience.
However, Perplexity is not alone in its interest. OpenAI has also reportedly expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, viewing it as an opportunity to introduce users to an "AI-first experience." Nick Turley, ChatGPT product lead, testified that such an acquisition would give OpenAI this capability.
Google is facing increasing antitrust scrutiny on multiple fronts. In the UK, the company is facing a £5 billion class action lawsuit, accusing it of abusing its dominance in online search and advertising markets. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is also investigating Google's role in online search and advertising, with provisional findings suggesting anti-competitive conduct. Furthermore, Google has faced criticism regarding its plans to phase out third-party cookies in Chrome, with regulators expressing concern that this could further entrench Google's dominance in digital advertising. Google has since scaled back its Privacy Sandbox initiative, delaying the ending of third-party cookies.
As the antitrust battle intensifies, the future of Chrome remains uncertain. A forced divestiture could lead to increased competition and innovation in the browser market, but also raises concerns about potential market fragmentation and ecosystem changes.
