Perplexity Chrome Bid Sparks Debate Over OpenAI’s Interest
Perplexity Chrome plans took center stage during the second day of Google’s major antitrust trial, as AI startup Perplexity revealed its surprising interest in acquiring the popular web browser. While it’s unclear how Perplexity would fund such a deal, the company believes it could manage Chrome without compromising on quality or adding fees.
Perplexity Chrome Plans in Google’s Antitrust Case
Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, testified that his company would consider buying Chrome if the court forced Google to sell it. However, he expressed a strong preference for Google to maintain ownership—especially over seeing OpenAI acquire the browser.
Concerns Over Chromium’s Future
One major concern for Perplexity is what might happen to Chromium—the open-source base for Chrome—if OpenAI were to take control. OpenAI, according to earlier testimony, is interested in buying Chrome in case of a divestiture. Shevelenko warned this could harm Chromium’s accessibility and development.
Perplexity’s Browser Backup – Comet
While Perplexity Chrome hopes remain uncertain, the company isn’t waiting around. Perplexity is actively developing its own browser called Comet, built on the Chromium engine. This would serve as a fallback if Chrome becomes unavailable or is sold to a competitor like OpenAI.
Final Thoughts on the Perplexity Chrome Strategy
Shevelenko praised Google’s product quality but criticized its exclusive deals with carriers. Ultimately, the Perplexity Chrome interest highlights how competitive and strategic the browser space has become in the AI era.
