AI-driven search startup Perplexity has made a bold move in the ongoing antitrust battle involving Google. In a recent court testimony, Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, Dmitry Shevelenko, expressed the company’s willingness to take over the iconic Chrome browser if a US federal court mandates that Google divests the product. This move comes amid mounting scrutiny of Google’s market dominance, with the company facing antitrust investigations over its control of search and browser ecosystems.
Perplexity, which is backed by Amazon, is known for its advanced search capabilities powered by artificial intelligence. Shevelenko’s comments in court highlight the startup’s readiness to manage Chrome’s operations without compromising its quality or imposing fees on users. Perplexity’s business model, which emphasizes AI-enhanced search tools, could offer a fresh direction for Chrome, potentially making the browser more integrated with AI technologies.
The proposal reflects Perplexity’s ambition to challenge Google’s entrenched dominance in the browser and search markets. While Google’s Chrome is the world’s most widely used browser, Perplexity’s ability to run the platform could disrupt the status quo. Shevelenko reassured the court that the startup would preserve Chrome’s popular features while exploring innovative ways to integrate AI-driven functionalities.
This statement underscores a significant shift in the landscape of tech industry antitrust cases. The idea of a smaller, AI-focused company like Perplexity taking over one of the world’s most dominant software products signals that the rise of artificial intelligence could reshape not only search engines but also the way we interact with the web.
Perplexity’s plans are still speculative, and the future of Google’s Chrome remains uncertain, as the court has yet to rule on whether Google will be required to sell the browser. However, the startup’s readiness to take on such a massive undertaking demonstrates its confidence in both its AI capabilities and the opportunity presented by a potential industry shake-up.
As this antitrust case progresses, the tech world will be watching closely to see if Perplexity’s bold proposal could become a reality.
