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Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5B Offer for Chrome

wsj.com

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Re: Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5B Offer for Chrome

#11

Post by spandrew »

sudenmorsian wrote: post #5

If there was any company that I would trust less with a web browser (and related user data) than an ad-tech company, it would be an AI company.

A social media ad company would be the least favourable. At least Google's central ad business is based off of search queries the user gives to them willingly for value.

Re: Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5B Offer for Chrome

#14

Post by minimaxir »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #9
tuesdaynight wrote: post #7

These marketing stunts from Perplexity made me stop using their product. For me, it's an indicator that they don't believe in their product, so there's no reason for me to do it either.

Are they truly marketing stunts? I mean I guess they could just fork Chromium instead.

Perplexity made a similar longshot offer for TikTok at the peak of that controversy, so yes it's a stunt: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/18/perplexity-ai-makes-a-bid-to...

Re: Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5B Offer for Chrome

#16

Post by jrecursive »

NAL, but IMO it's legal & political maneuvering. DOJ asked Judge Mehta to consider forcing divestiture of Chrome after Google was found to illegally maintained a search monopoly. If it's determined the divestiture is feasible, especially with an existing more-or-less "credible buyer" at the ready, it looks executable. The offer is basically crafted to fit the DOJ/regulator concerns, ie everything is build around "least disruptive": keeping Google the default search engine, etc. Furthermore, just by doing this, they are putting ideas out there about what an "acceptable buyer" is and puts a number to the discussion about "what Chrome is worth". Purely remedies chess and an attempt to own the narrative. Google's going to say no, at least as-is, but this certainly throws a wrench in the works. Lots more moves to be made.

Re: Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5B Offer for Chrome

#17

Post by firloop »

giancarlostoro wrote: post #9
tuesdaynight wrote: post #7

These marketing stunts from Perplexity made me stop using their product. For me, it's an indicator that they don't believe in their product, so there's no reason for me to do it either.

Are they truly marketing stunts? I mean I guess they could just fork Chromium instead.

They've already forked Chromium. https://www.perplexity.ai/comet

Re: Perplexity Makes Longshot $34.5B Offer for Chrome

#19

Post by beepbopboopp »

tuesdaynight wrote: post #7

These marketing stunts from Perplexity made me stop using their product. For me, it's an indicator that they don't believe in their product, so there's no reason for me to do it either.

These are consumer products that are basically commodities to all but the largest power users. If you loved their product than this approach should make you ecstatic as its the only way they'll be able to survive as an independent.

OpenAi literally retired all their models to the anger of the likes of people like you because they know this is all basically a race for the most familiar consumer assistant on a monthly subscription.

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