Perplexity has expressed interest in buying Chrome if the ongoing antitrust trial against Google ends with the browser being put up for sale. This was revealed by Perplexity’s Business Director, Dmitry Shevelenko, during his testimony on Wednesday (23), as reported by The Verge.
Shevelenko stated that Perplexity could manage a browser at Chrome’s scale without compromising on quality or charging users. He also threw some shade at OpenAI—another company reportedly interested in acquiring Chrome—suggesting they might not maintain the same level of openness or user-friendliness if they took control.
Interestingly, despite Perplexity’s interest, Shevelenko admitted that the better outcome would likely be for Google to retain ownership of Chrome, rather than sell it off to a competitor like OpenAI.
Shevelenko also highlighted the steep challenges new players face when trying to compete with Google during his testimony. He shared that Perplexity had partnered with smartphone manufacturers to make their assistant the default on mobile devices, but those efforts were unsuccessful.
The main roadblock? Manufacturers were afraid of jeopardizing their existing deals with Google or losing out on the revenue they receive from the tech giant.
Will Google have to sell Chrome?
Following monopoly accusations related to online search and advertising in 2024, Google is now entering a new trial phase that will determine potential penalties. Among the most serious measures being considered is the forced sale of Chrome as part of a possible corporate breakup.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), which is leading the case against Google, is pushing for stricter consequences, including divesting Chrome and ending the company’s exclusive financial agreements. Conversely, Google is advocating for more moderate remedies, such as simply scaling back those exclusivity deals.
Regardless of the outcome, Google will still have the right to appeal any decision made by the court.
