3 6 Ke·2025-08-13 07:23Core Viewpoint - Perplexity, a three-year-old AI startup, has made a bold move by offering to acquire Google's Chrome browser business for $34.5 billion in cash, which is nearly double its latest valuation of $18 billion, marking a significant moment in tech history as a "snake swallowing an elephant" case [1][9]. Group 1: Company Overview - Perplexity was founded in 2022 by former Google AI researcher Aravind Srinivas, focusing on an AI-driven "answer engine" that provides concise answers along with source links for credibility [3]. - The company's valuation has skyrocketed from $5 million in early 2024 to $18 billion by July 2025, reflecting a remarkable growth trajectory supported by notable investors including Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Turing Award winner LeCun [4]. - Despite having an annual recurring revenue of just under $100 million, Perplexity's valuation implies a staggering market capitalization of 180 times its revenue, which is uncommon in the tech sector [4]. Group 2: Acquisition Proposal - The acquisition proposal was unsolicited, submitted directly to Google CEO Sundar Pichai at a critical time when Google is facing antitrust litigation from the U.S. Department of Justice [2][7]. - Perplexity's offer comes as the DOJ is considering remedies for Google's alleged illegal monopoly in the search market, with the potential forced divestiture of Chrome being a key suggestion [7][8]. - The proposal emphasizes that the acquisition would serve the "highest public interest standard" and includes commitments to maintain the Chromium open-source project and invest over $3 billion in Chrome and Chromium over the next two years [8]. Group 3: Market Reaction and Implications - The tech industry reacted strongly to the news, with Google firmly stating it has no intention of selling Chrome, arguing that forced asset sales would harm business development and innovation [9]. - Analysts generally believe the likelihood of the deal succeeding is low, as the court may opt for less drastic measures than a forced sale, although the judge has indicated that divesting Chrome could be a simpler solution [11]. - Regardless of the outcome, Perplexity's bold move has significantly raised its profile and demonstrated its ambition to challenge industry giants in the AI era, marking a pivotal moment in the evolving tech landscape [11].