OpenAI, Perplexity, and Yahoo have expressed interest in buying the Chrome browser
Though a federal judge has not yet ordered Google to divest Chrome as part of the remedy phase in the DOJ antitrust case that found the tech giant illegally maintains a monopoly in online search, companies like OpenAI, Yahoo and Perplexity are already showing interest in buying the world’s most used browser.
OpenAI executive Nick Turley testified this week that the AI startup would be interested in buying the Chrome browser if the DOJ forces Google to sell it. He also said the company previously offered Google a deal to integrate its search into ChatGPT, which was rejected.
OpenAI now partners with Microsoft (maker of Bing and Edge), while Google leans on its generative AI suite, Gemini, to stay competitive.
Execs in another AI startup, Perplexity, and once-famous search engine Yahoo have also expressed a desire to buy Chrome.
However, Google plans to appeal recent rulings on its ad and search monopolies. It insists Chrome isn’t for sale and that forced breakups would hurt US innovation.
The federal judge’s decision isn’t expected until August or September, and even then, a Chrome sell-off isn’t guaranteed.
Chrome is considered worth between $20 billion to $100 billion. OpenAI is valued at $300 billion, Perplexity is under $10 billion, and Yahoo was last sold for $5 billion.