AI startup Perplexity has made headlines with a $34.5 billion all-cash bid for Google’s Chrome browser. Despite being valued at just $14 billion, the company seeks to gain access to Chrome’s three billion users and strengthen its position in the competitive AI-powered search industry. This audacious move comes as Google faces regulatory scrutiny, including a U.S. court’s ruling that called its monopoly in online search unlawful. Perplexity, which previously targeted TikTok US in January, has promised to keep Chrome’s code open source and invest $3 billion over two years. Analysts expect Google to strongly resist the offer, emphasizing Chrome’s importance to its AI strategy.