Perplexity has thrown its hat into the ring with a potential takeover bid for Google’s web browser after OpenAI said it was also interested.
Perplexity would consider acquiring Google’s Chrome browser if the court ordered the search giant to sell it as part of an antitrust remedy, a company executive has told the judge in a testimony.
“I think we could do it,” said Dmitry Shevelenko, chief business officer at Perplexity, when asked by an attorney if his company believed anyone besides Google could operate a browser at Chrome’s scale without charging users or compromising on quality.
The company would be “happy” to take on the project, according to The Verge, which first reported Shevelenko’s remarks.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) has proposed several remedies in its lawsuit against Google over what it describes as the company’s illegal monopoly on search, including a potential breakup.
Google strongly objected to the DoJ’s proposals, describing them as “both unnecessary and harmful.” The company warned that the measures could harm consumers, innovation, and national security.
The judge overseeing the case ruled last year that Google holds a monopoly in online search and related advertising markets.
Although Shevelenko did not want to testify in Google’s monopoly trial and was subpoenaed to do so, he welcomed the ruling, which he said created a more open environment for discussions, with companies more willing to talk now that Google was “under pressure.”
However, Shevelenko also expressed reservations about breaking up Google, arguing against such a move in a LinkedIn post shared ahead of his testimony. Perplexity echoed that view in a company blog post, stating that “choice is the remedy.”
OpenAI bid
In court, Shevelenko also cautioned against the possibility of a company like OpenAI acquiring Chrome. An OpenAI executive had testified earlier that the company would consider buying the browser.
"Yes, we would, as would many other parties," said Nick Turley, head of product at OpenAI, when asked if ChatGPT-maker would consider buying Google’s browser business.
Turley, a witness for the government, further elaborated that integrating ChatGPT with Chrome could offer users a "really incredible experience" and introduce them to "what an AI-first browser looks like."
He also said that OpenAI had previously approached Google over integrating its search technology with ChatGPT, but its proposal was shot down.
Shevelenko, meanwhile, said that Google makes quality products and Perplexity had no interest in seeing a remedy that “cripples” the company’s ability to keep doing that.
Referring to OpenAI’s interest in buying Chrome, he said: “There’s all the self-serving incentive to be here today and shout about how evil Google is, and I think we want to be reasonable.”
Old grievances
Despite arguing against Google’s breakup – while simultaneously making its own shot at taking over Chrome – Perplexity and many smaller companies are increasingly vocal about the search giant’s market dominance and treatment of competitors.
According to Shevelenko, Perplexity, an AI-driven search engine, encountered significant barriers in gaining distribution on Android devices due to Google’s entrenched dominance.
Shevelenko said that one company – unnamed in court but widely believed to be Motorola – agreed to preload Perplexity’s assistant on its devices. However, despite both sides' willingness to integrate their products, they were unable to because of Google’s restrictions.
According to Shevelenko, the company “tried every creative workaround” to evade the restrictions, but the “jungle gym” of Android settings would not allow it.
Even when Perplexity’s assistant was set as the default, it still didn’t take precedence over Google’s, he noted.
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