In a surprising twist to the ongoing antitrust case between Google and the U.S. Department of Justice, Perplexity wants to buy Google Chrome if regulators force a sale. The announcement places Aravind Srinivas’s AI startup in direct competition with OpenAI, which also recently expressed interest in acquiring the world’s most popular browser.
The Chrome Dilemma: A Browser at the Center of Big Tech’s Future
The DOJ’s landmark trial against Google is already shaking up the tech world. At the heart of the case is whether Google’s dominance in search and its exclusive deals with device makers stifled competition. If the court sides with the DOJ, Google could be ordered to divest key products—and that includes Google Chrome.
That scenario has prompted serious interest from emerging AI players. Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer Dmitry Shevelenko testified during the trial that the company would be capable of operating Chrome without compromising performance or inflating costs. His statement followed questioning on whether any company besides Google could maintain a browser of Chrome’s scale.
“I think we could do it,” Shevelenko confidently told the court.
OpenAI Also Wants a Piece of Chrome
Just days before Perplexity’s ambitions became public, OpenAI’s Nick Turley revealed that his company had previously approached Google in 2023, requesting access to the company’s search API for use in ChatGPT. The proposal was denied, pushing OpenAI to continue relying on Microsoft’s Bing.
Turley’s testimony also revealed that OpenAI wants to buy Google Chrome should a divestiture become necessary, underscoring just how valuable the browser—and its underlying Chromium platform—is to generative AI companies aiming to reshape the future of online information.
The Stakes: More Than Just a Browser
Chrome isn’t just a browser—it’s an entry point to the web for billions. Any new owner would also gain control of Chromium, the open-source backbone of not just Chrome, but rival browsers like Arc and Brave.
That’s precisely what worries Google. The company has warned that transferring control of Chromium could either lead to monetization attempts or a lack of proper maintenance, which could destabilize the browser ecosystem.
Yet the DOJ remains firm, suggesting that Google’s grip on search and web infrastructure may give it an unfair AI advantage. Prosecutors fear that this dominance could limit competition in generative AI—a space where firms like OpenAI and Perplexity are quickly gaining ground.
Why It Matters: The AI War Is Just Beginning
Perplexity’s potential Chrome acquisition is more than a power play—it’s about controlling the gateway to search and data. In the AI arms race, whoever owns the browser can shape how users interact with intelligent assistants, surface content, and even steer the algorithms that drive AI products.
With OpenAI and Perplexity both eyeing Chrome, the browser once taken for granted has become the hottest asset in tech.
What Happens Next?
While Chrome hasn’t officially hit the market, the DOJ’s case is far from over. If regulators win, tech’s most prized browser could soon be up for grabs—and the battle to control it will be fierce.
Perplexity wants to buy Google Chrome, but so does OpenAI. If the DOJ forces Google to sell, we may be witnessing the beginning of a new era, where AI giants battle not just for search, but for your browser.
Get the Latest AI News on AI Content Minds Blog