Why AI companies are offering billions for Google Chrome

AI firms like Perplexity and OpenAI aren’t just trying to compete with Google on search — they want to own the interface itself. Several AI companies have placed multi-billion euro bids on Google Chrome, the world’s most widely used web browser.

Perplexity offered €29.5 billion, while Ad.com went slightly higher with a €30 billion bid. OpenAI also expressed interest, though it hasn’t made a formal offer. These bids follow legal pressure in the U.S., where regulators have proposed breaking up Google to curb its dominance. Selling off Chrome is one possible remedy.

Why the sudden interest in a browser? It’s all about users. Chrome has 3.5 billion monthly users. That scale allows Google to introduce AI features, like generated answers in Search, directly into the habits of billions. AI competitors want that same advantage to distribute their own tools and models.

While both Perplexity ('Comet') and OpenAI ('Aura') are building their own browsers, getting users to switch is difficult. Acquiring Chrome would be a shortcut to mass distribution.

Still, the bids may be more symbolic than serious. Experts say Chrome could be worth up to €42 billion, and Google has declined to comment. Some see the offers as strategic moves to raise awareness about market dominance and the value of user-facing platforms in the AI era.

Read the full article on the Volkskrant website.