Search.com has entered the race to acquire Google Chrome with a $35 billion counteroffer, surpassing Perplexity AI's $34.5 billion bid. The proposal receives backing from JPMorgan and a consortium of private equity firms.
The $500 million premium intensifies the high-stakes battle over the future of web browsing and AI search, as more challengers seek control of the world's most widely used browser.
"This move serves both offensive and defensive purposes," said Melissa Anderson, president of Public Good which owns Search.com. "Acquiring Chrome would accelerate adoption of our AI search platform and create direct user relationships."
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice sued Google over alleged search and ad market monopolies. A federal court in April ruled Google maintains dominance in digital advertising. Chrome holds approximately 65% global browser market share, though a March 2025 Wharton report estimates Google controls nearly 90% of search traffic.
On Tuesday, Perplexity AI submitted its $34.5 billion proposal positioning the bid as a defense of open-source web infrastructure against big tech control. Anonymous institutional investors support this alternative.
Both Search.com and Perplexity frame their bids as solutions to market concentration. For Search.com, acquisition strategy extends beyond infrastructure to data control.
"Google and Bing dominate 99% of search," added Danny Bibi, CEO of Ad.com (Public Good's parent company). "Chrome represents our entry point for growth and accessing incremental traffic. It's the gateway."
As a Public Good division, Search.com operates within ad.com - the digital advertising network founded in 1993. The company generates $300-400 million annually from ads, estimating Chrome ownership could boost revenue to billions through data monetization.
Search.com's bid matches Perplexity's structure - including Chrome's codebase, trademarks, infrastructure and user data - but introduces user-centric benefits: ad-free browsing, search rewards, and a 60% publisher revenue-sharing model.
"This reflects our commitment to ethical AI - we never scrape content without compensation," Anderson explained. "We aim to support journalism by sharing 60% of ad revenues with content contributors."
AI Arms Race Expands to Browsers
These bids arrive as AI features become pivotal browser market differentiators. Microsoft added Copilot to Edge, Brave includes Leo assistant, Opera operates on Gemini with Neon next-gen testing, and OpenAI is reportedly developing its own browser.
Search.com launched a generative AI platform earlier this month, positioning Chrome as the cornerstone of its "platform built for public good, not just profit" philosophy.
"Everyone should have free and fair access to knowledge," Anderson emphasized. "Our approach maintains publisher compensation while giving users control."
Google has not publicly responded to proposals. According to Anderson and Bibi, Search.com's offer has been formally submitted to the company.
With competing bids emerging, Chrome's future - and AI's role in browser ecosystems - now becomes critical.
"We've stated our position clearly," said Bibi. "Now it's up to them to respond."
