硅谷上演“蛇吞象” 大戏 谷歌成“猎物”

Core Viewpoint - Perplexity, a three-year-old AI search startup, has made a $34.5 billion cash offer to acquire Google's Chrome browser, nearly double its own valuation of $18 billion, raising questions about the seriousness of the bid and its timing amid ongoing antitrust litigation against Google [2][3] Antitrust Context - The backdrop of this acquisition offer is a pending antitrust lawsuit against Google by the U.S. Department of Justice, which may lead to significant changes in Google's operations, including the potential divestiture of Chrome [3] - Analysts suggest two possible outcomes for Google's antitrust situation: a forced breakup or a fine, with the latter being more likely [3] Perplexity's Position - Perplexity's executives have expressed interest in acquiring Chrome if forced by the court, emphasizing their capability to operate it independently [3] - The company has committed to maintaining the open-source nature of the Chromium code and plans to invest $3 billion over the next two years in the project [4] Valuation and Market Dynamics - The $34.5 billion offer is seen as significantly undervaluing Chrome, which is estimated to be worth at least $50 billion [6] - Despite the high offer, Perplexity's funding for the acquisition is reportedly backed by several top venture capital firms, indicating a strong belief in the future of AI ecosystems [5] Industry Trends - The search industry is undergoing a transformation with major players like Google and Baidu integrating AI into their core search functionalities, marking a significant shift in how search engines operate [7][8] - Google's recent financial performance shows strong growth in its search business, with revenues of $54.1 billion in Q2 2025, reflecting an 11.7% year-over-year increase, indicating its resilience and adaptability in the evolving market [7]