Search.com Offers $35 Billion for Google Chrome, Beating Perplexity AI’s Bid
Search.com has joined the competition to buy Google Chrome, offering $35 billion—half a billion dollars more than Perplexity AI’s $34.5 billion bid. The deal is backed by JPMorgan Chase and several private equity firms.
The fight for Chrome is heating up because the browser is the most popular in the world and a key entry point for AI-powered search.
Why Search.com Wants Chrome
Melissa Anderson, president of Public Good (owner of Search.com), said buying Chrome would help grow their AI search platform and connect directly with millions of users.
Right now, Chrome controls about 65% of the browser market, and Google handles almost 90% of global search traffic, according to a March 2025 report from Wharton.
The Background
Google is already facing legal trouble. In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued the company for illegally dominating search and ads. In April 2025, a court ruled Google had a monopoly in digital ads.
Perplexity’s Bid
Earlier this week, Perplexity AI made its $34.5 billion offer, saying it wanted to keep the web open-source and reduce Big Tech’s control over browsers.
What Search.com is Offering
Search.com’s bid matches Perplexity’s terms—getting Chrome’s code, trademarks, infrastructure, and user data—but adds extras for users:
- Ad-free browsing
- Cashback rewards for searches
- 60% ad revenue share for publishers
The company says this supports ethical AI, where publishers are paid for their content instead of having it taken for free.
The AI Browser Race
Browsers are rapidly adding AI features:
- Microsoft Edge has Copilot Mode
- Brave includes its Leo assistant
- Opera runs on Google’s Gemini AI and is testing a new browser called Neon
- OpenAI is rumored to be working on its own browser
Search.com recently launched its own AI platform and says Chrome could be the foundation for a “public interest” browser that keeps access to knowledge free and fair while paying content creators.
What’s Next
Google has not yet responded to either offer. With two big bids on the table, the future of Chrome—and the role of AI in browsers—remains uncertain.
