Perplexity AI, developer of an AI-powered search engine, is reportedly getting ready for an additional funding spherical at a $20 billion valuation. The capital may fund the corporate’s latest $34.5 billion bid to amass the Google Chrome browser.
The goal valuation is $2 billion increased than Perplexity’s earlier $18 billion mark from its July 2025 fundraise, in accordance to Business Insider. The firm’s value has surged 3,746% since January 2024, when it was valued at $520 million.
On Tuesday, Perplexity made an unsolicited $34.5 billion supply to buy the Google Chrome browser, a product that has been the topic of an ongoing Google antitrust case. In a ruling anticipated to the approaching days, a US district courtroom decide may pressure Google to promote the browser to cut back the corporate’s dominance in internet looking out.
OpenAI, which is answerable for the AI mannequin ChatGPT, can also be reportedly thinking about buying Google’s browser. Apollo Global Management and Yahoo can also have an interest.
According to information platform DemandSage, Perplexity has reached an annual recurring income of $80 million, with 22 million month-to-month energetic customers.
Cointelegraph reached out to Perplexity and Google for feedback, however had not obtained responses at time of publication.
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AI race spills over into internet search market
The synthetic intelligence race is starting to spill over into internet search. AI fashions like ChatGPT and Gemini usually use sources gleaned instantly from the web, offering much-needed citations that may make the fashions’ responses appear extra credible.
In July 2025, OpenAI revealed plans to launch an online browser that will problem Google Chrome. Perplexity has already launched its personal AI browser, referred to as Comet.
Hackers have been concentrating on internet browsers for a while, together with Chrome.
In October 2024, the Lazarus Group exploited a Chrome vulnerability by way of an NFT sport. Just a few months earlier, in June, hackers took benefit of a Chrome plugin to steal from Binance accounts.
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