Published on: April 29, 2025 / Updated on: April 29, 2025 – Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
The battle for Google Chrome | OpenAI, Yahoo, Perplexity and DuckDuckGo: The implications of a potential sale – Image: Xpert.Digital
Why selling Chrome could reshape the internet
Monopoly suspicions against Google: Who could take over Google's browser?
In an unprecedented development, we could witness the sale of one of the most dominant internet products of the last decade. Following a US court ruling that Google holds an illegal monopoly in the search engine market, the potential sale of the Chrome browser is now a real possibility. Several technology companies are already positioning themselves as potential buyers. This report analyzes the interested parties, the challenges associated with such a purchase, and the potential impact of an acquisition on each of them.
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Those interested in Google's browser
The potentially forced sale of Chrome has already attracted the attention of several prominent technology companies. They all see enormous strategic opportunities in controlling a browser with a market share of approximately 66%.
OpenAI as an ambitious interested party
OpenAI, known for its chatbot ChatGPT, has expressed a strong interest in Chrome. Nick Turley, ChatGPT's chief product officer, told a Washington court that OpenAI would be seriously interested in acquiring the platform should Google be forced to sell. This acquisition intention seems particularly interesting given that OpenAI had previously attempted to license Google's search technology for ChatGPT, a move Google rejected in August 2024, citing the potential for "too many competitors being involved.".
For OpenAI, acquiring Chrome would mean direct access to a huge user base and the opportunity to deeply integrate AI technologies like ChatGPT into the browser experience. This could revolutionize the user experience on the internet and significantly strengthen OpenAI's position in the competition for the future of information retrieval.
Yahoo with strategic ambitions
Yahoo, once a leading search engine and now a portal operator and publisher, has also signaled a strong interest in acquiring Chrome. Brian Provost, the Yahoo manager responsible for the internet search business, described Chrome as "strategically the most important player on the web" and estimated its value at around $50 billion.
For Yahoo, a potential acquisition of Chrome represents a unique opportunity to dramatically increase its current market share in web search. With a current market share of approximately three percent, Yahoo could reach double digits by controlling Chrome, as roughly 60 percent of all web searches originate from users of this browser. Reports indicate that Yahoo is already developing its own browser but would prefer to acquire Chrome and is prepared to offer an eleven-figure sum for the purchase. Furthermore, Yahoo has a financially strong partner in Apollo Asset Management, which could provide the necessary funds.
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Perplexity AI as a technology-oriented alternative
The relatively young AI startup Perplexity, through its Chief Business Officer Dmitry Shevelenko, has also expressed interest in acquiring Chrome. When directly asked in court whether Perplexity would be interested in an acquisition, he answered with a clear "Yes." Shevelenko expressed his conviction that his company would be capable of operating a browser on the scale of Chrome.
Perplexity, founded only about three years ago, is developing an AI-powered search engine and has ambitious plans to bring it to Samsung and Motorola smartphones. Interestingly, the company has also recently expressed interest in acquiring TikTok, which is facing a potential ban in the US.
DuckDuckGo as a privacy-conscious applicant
The privacy-focused search engine DuckDuckGo, through its CEO Gabriel Weinberg, has also signaled interest. When asked whether DuckDuckGo would be interested in acquiring Chrome regardless of the cost, Weinberg replied, "Absolutely." However, he estimated Chrome's market value at "over $50 billion," which likely exceeds DuckDuckGo's financial resources.
Background and legal dimensions
The potential sale of Chrome is part of a larger antitrust case against Google. In August 2024, a US court ruled that Google was illegally abusing its monopoly in internet search.
The antitrust case against Google
The US Department of Justice has accused Google of securing its dominant market position through unfair practices. A central point of the lawsuit is the demand that Google must sell its Chrome browser to promote competition and break up monopolies. Chrome dominates the browser market with a market share of around 60 percent in the US and about two-thirds worldwide.
The "remedy phase" of the proceedings is currently underway, in which the court will determine what measures Google must take to rectify the identified antitrust violations. A final decision is expected in August 2025. However, Google plans to appeal any unfavorable ruling, which could significantly prolong the process.
Alternative measures
Besides selling Chrome, other measures are also being discussed. For example, Google could be forced to communicate more transparently with advertisers and give them more control over where their ads appear. Furthermore, the company could be required to provide options that allow website operators to protect their content from Google's AI models (specifically Gemini).
It is also being discussed that Google may have to separate its mobile operating system Android from Google Search and the Google Play app store – but without having to sell the rights to Android itself.
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How Google's Chrome sale will be a technical and financial mammoth task
The potential sale of Chrome is associated with significant challenges, both technical and economic in nature.
Technical complexity and operating costs
Google itself warns that no other company would be able to operate the browser in its current form. Developing the browser is only a small part of the work; operating it is far more complex and expensive. Chrome has numerous interfaces to Google services that have become indispensable.
Chrome is deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem and was originally developed to promote the Google search engine. This close integration makes a clean separation extremely difficult. Furthermore, Chrome has a Chromium foundation, from which numerous other browsers also benefit.
Financial value and financing issues
A key question is what Chrome is actually worth without its Google connection. Without the Google links, all revenue would disappear, operations would have to be financed independently, and the powerful Google marketing would be lost.
Gabriel Weinberg of DuckDuckGo estimates Chrome's value at "over $50 billion," which is likely to exceed the financial resources of many interested parties. The acquisition is not just about the necessary financial resources, but also about the technical expertise and infrastructure required to maintain such a complex ecosystem.
Safety concerns
User security is another critical aspect. A recent study by Cybernews examined 100 popular Chrome extensions and uncovered alarming security risks. Of these extensions, 86 require dangerous permissions that grant extensive access to sensitive data and functions. A new operator would need to be able to manage these security risks and protect the privacy of billions of users.
Google argues that “it can hardly be in the interest of a court or the US government to put a browser containing the personal data of three billion users into the hands of an ‘amateur’”.
Possible implications for potential buyers
Depending on the buyer, an acquisition of Chrome would have different strategic implications.
Strategic advantages for search engines
For Yahoo, the acquisition of Chrome could lead to a significant increase in its market share in web search. Since around 60 percent of all search queries are conducted via the Chrome browser, Yahoo could increase its share from the current three percent to a double-digit figure. This would make Yahoo a relevant player in the search engine market again after years of decline.
For DuckDuckGo, controlling Chrome would also represent a tremendous opportunity to increase the reach of its privacy-focused search engine. However, the financial requirements are likely to pose a significant obstacle.
Integration options for AI companies
For OpenAI, acquiring Chrome would offer the opportunity to integrate its AI technologies directly into the browsing experience. The combination of a browser and advanced AI could fundamentally change the way people search for and process information online.
The same applies to Perplexity, which could integrate its AI-powered search technology directly into the browser. Shevelenko complained in court about the "jungle" of Android settings that users have to navigate to set Perplexity as their default AI assistant. Direct control over Chrome would eliminate this hurdle.
Impact on competition
An acquisition of Chrome by another company could fundamentally change the browser market and internet access. Depending on who acquires Chrome, we could see greater integration of AI, a stronger emphasis on data privacy, or a realignment towards other commercial interests.
The potential shift in the balance of power in the search engine market is particularly interesting. Google has dominated this market for years with a share of over 90%. A separation from Chrome could weaken this dominance and give other providers the chance to gain larger market shares.
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Google under pressure: What the Chrome sale means for users
The process surrounding a potential sale of Chrome is still in its early stages and many questions remain unanswered.
Temporal perspective
The final decision in the antitrust case against Google is expected in August 2025. If the court does indeed order the sale of Chrome, Google is likely to appeal, which would further delay the process.
It is therefore unlikely that we will see an actual sale of Chrome before 2026 or even 2027. In the meantime, both Google and potential buyers are likely to further develop and adapt their strategies.
Google's resistance
Google views the demand to sell Chrome as part of a “radical agenda” and argues that splitting off the browser would severely restrict its functionality. The company warns that such a move could stifle innovation, harm users, and even pose risks to national security.
Google will exhaust all legal means to prevent or at least delay a sale. At the same time, the company is likely to develop contingency plans should a sale become unavoidable.
What happens when Google Chrome changes ownership?
The potential sale of Google Chrome represents an unprecedented intervention in the structure of one of the world's most dominant technology companies. Yahoo, OpenAI, Perplexity, and DuckDuckGo have already expressed interest in acquiring it, each with different strategic goals and financial resources.
The technical and economic challenges of such a sale are considerable. Chrome is deeply integrated into the Google ecosystem, and it remains questionable whether another company could operate the browser in its current form. Furthermore, its estimated value of $50 billion or more presents a significant financial hurdle.
The impact of an acquisition would vary depending on the buyer, but would be profound in any case. We could see greater integration of AI technologies, a renewed focus on data privacy, or a shift in the balance of power in the search engine market.
Ultimately, the decision on whether Chrome must be sold will shape not only the future of Google, but also the way billions of people worldwide access and use the internet.
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