Google may sell Chrome as OpenAI and Perplexity AI show interest

Google’s antitrust showdown with the U.S. Department of Justice has taken a dramatic turn with the possible forced sale of Chrome, the world’s dominant web browser. This development marks a potential watershed moment in tech regulation, as both OpenAI and Perplexity AI have publicly expressed interest in acquiring Chrome should Google be required to divest it. The case highlights escalating government efforts to address monopolistic practices in the digital economy and could reshape the competitive landscape of search and browser markets.

The big picture: The U.S. Justice Department is seeking to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser as part of a landmark antitrust case that began this week.

• DOJ lawyer David Dahlquist argued that Google should also license its search results to competitors to end its monopoly and restore competition in the search market.
• The case represents a significant escalation in the government’s approach to tech monopolies, with Dahlquist stating: “Now is the time to tell Google and other monopolists who are out there listening, and they are listening, that there are consequences when you break the antitrust laws.”

Key arguments: The Justice Department contends Google’s search monopoly creates a self-reinforcing advantage that extends to its AI products.

• Google’s search dominance helps improve its AI offerings, which then direct users back to its search engine, creating what the DOJ characterizes as an anti-competitive cycle.
• Google’s lawyer, John Schmidtlein, countered that the DOJ’s proposal amounts to “a wishlist for competitors looking to get the benefits of Google’s extraordinary innovations.”

Unexpected suitors: Both OpenAI and Perplexity AI have publicly declared interest in purchasing Chrome if Google is forced to divest.

• Nick Turley, OpenAI’s Head of Product for ChatGPT, testified that his company would be interested in acquiring Chrome, revealing that OpenAI had previously approached Google about using its Search API for ChatGPT but was rejected in August 2024.
• Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer Dmitry Shevelenko expressed confidence in his company’s ability to operate Chrome, stating simply: “I think we could do it.”

Why this matters: A forced sale of Chrome would also include Chromium, the open-source web browser project that underpins not only Chrome but also Microsoft Edge and several other browsers.

• The outcome could fundamentally restructure the web browser market, where Chrome currently holds dominant market share.
• OpenAI’s testimony highlighted the strategic importance of search capabilities, with Turley noting: “Search is a critical part of ChatGPT to provide answers to user queries that are up to date and factual…ChatGPT is years away from its goal of being able to use its own technology to answer 80 percent of queries.”