Perplexity, run by Aravind Srinivas is a free AI-powered answer engine that provides real-time answers to any question. It has made the bold decision to bid for Google’s Chrome browser at $34.5 billion. Perplexity already has an AI browser Comet and it can perform certain tasks on a user’s behalf. However, acquiring Chrome would give it the leverage to better compete against bigger rivals such as Open AI.
Perplexity did not disclose on Tuesday how it plans to fund the offer. The three-year old company has raised around $1 billion in funding so far from investors including Nvidia and Japan’s Soft Bank. It was last valued at $14 billion. Although this decision is not the only time Perplexity has been in the headlines. The AI startup made one similar proposition to TikTok US in January offering to merge with the popular short video app to resolve US concerns about TikTok’s Chinese ownership. Other companies like Open AI, Yahoo and Private-equity firm Apollo Global Management have also expressed interest in Chrome as regulatory pressure threatens Google’s grip on the industry.
Perplexity said, “Multiple funds have offered to finance the deal in full”, without naming funds. The company said the offer with no equity component would preserve user choice and ease future competition concerns. Its competitors such as Chat GPT parent is also working on its own AI browser.
The technology world is picking its speed at a rapid pace. There is news everyday. Every startup is doing its best to follow this pace strategically. This rapid evolution keeps every company on their toes.
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