The technology industry was shocked when it was announced in August 2025 that a bold bid of $34.5 billion (₹3,02,152 crores) was placed on buying Google Chrome, the world’s most popular web browser with over 3 billion users. Perplexity AI’s co-founder and CEO, Aravind Srinivas, is spearheading this remarkable move. This article goes over in further detail the motives and consequences of such a move, focusing on the impact it would have on the technology industry and users from all over the globe.
Who is Aravind Srinivas? The Man Behind the Bid
Aravind Srinivas, born in 1994 in Chennai, India, is a distinguished computer scientist and entrepreneur with an extensive background in AI research. He has dual engineering degrees from IIT-Madras along with a PhD in computer science from UC Berkeley. Srinivas gained his expertise working with the world’s leading research labs in artificial intelligence, OpenAI, DeepMind, and Google Brain.
In 2022, Srinivas Perplexity AI’s “Answer engine” company that provided cited answers as responses to questions asked by users gained different attention as it was located in San Francisco. Perplexity AI gained global interest as it was one of the first to envision an AI conversational engine that would differ from the traditional engines and was also funded by big shots like Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, Elad Gil, and many more.
Why from Bid to Buy? Perplexity AI’s aims Bid for chrome
Perplexity AI now aims to bid for Chrome at critical junctures. Srinivas decided now was the perfect time, as Google was undergoing severe antitrust obligations and undergoing investigation of Alphabet, to dissolve Chrome as a result of courts deeming Google an illegal monopoly of search.
If Perplexity AI ends up acquiring Chrome, the company would immediately gain 3 billion users. Srinivas, however, sees the installation base as an AI-powered search engine and is investing $3 billion to develop Chrome in the next two years, while Chrome would “remain open-sourced.”
Most importantly, Srinivas has maintained that user experience will not be neglected, promising not to “stealthily” take over as the default search engine or disrupt the flow for the millions who use Chrome. Further, he has also pledged to champion Chrome talent and has committed to a “100-month availability and support” plan roadmap after the acquisition.
The Funding and Feasibility Challenge
Srinivas’ bid is shocking, almost double Perplexity’s valuation and only a fraction of what Chrome is unquestionably worth. Major investment funds are reported to be willing to finance the bid if Google agrees to it. At the same time, other experts are saying that it could be a strategic move to a far more elaborate takeover.
To Perplexity and Srinivas, it’s a strategic wager that underscores the impact of AI on web browsers, the evolution of search functions, and user data tracking. Perplexity could place itself these days ahead of competitors such as OpenAI and pose a serious threat, as it would place them as a leader in the integration of browsing, searching, and personal digital assistance.
Srinivas’ Vision: AI, Empowering Users, and India’s Increasing Role in Global Tech
Srinivas represents “new India” in the context of global technology, blending academic achievement with the zeal of Silicon Valley. He is well-known for the powerful, socially responsible advice he gives, telling young people to use AI to better their lives instead of scrolling through social media. He fuses modern entrepreneurship with adaptation in a world that is becoming increasingly automated. Perplexity, under his leadership, has pioneered innovations like the Comet browser, executing AI-powered multi-step tasks ranging from recruitment to food ordering with a single prompt.
Srinivas’ story, a Chennai boy realizing his mother’s dream of IIT, building an $18 billion startup, and now looking to reimagine the tech ecosystem, resonates with the dreams of young engineers and entrepreneurs not just in India, but across the globe. His career marks a meteoric progression from Indian origins to international prominence. His latest endeavor to acquire Chrome is, in his own words, ‘democratizing web access,’ as well as giving a new purpose to monopolistic structures that previously operated freely, while also fast-tracking the adoption of conversational AI into everyday tasks.
What a Week I’ve Had
With Chrome still bringing in revenue for Google, it seems highly unlikely that they would divest it. However, the bid from Srinivas does showcase a significant shift for browsers, AI, and the overarching strategy of Big Tech. One way or another, the deal portrays a reality where AI-funded startup companies will have opportunities to compete with the world’s largest companies, and visionary thinkers such as Srinivas will be able to guide the development of the tools that billions of people interact with daily.
