It’s not every day you see a scrappy AI startup like Perplexity AI step into a courtroom and casually offer to buy one of the world’s most dominant web browsers. But that’s exactly what happened when Dmitry Shevelenko, Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer, took the stand in the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) blockbuster antitrust trial against Google. With the tech giant’s Chrome browser potentially on the chopping block, Shevelenko didn’t just testify about Google’s monopolistic grip on search—he pitched Perplexity as a ready and willing buyer. “I think we could do it,” he said, when asked if anyone besides Google could run Chrome at scale without compromising quality or slapping a price tag on it.

This wasn’t a rehearsed corporate stunt. Shevelenko was subpoenaed, dragged into court to illustrate how Google’s search dominance stifles AI upstarts like Perplexity. But he seized the moment, turning a legal grilling into a bold business play. It’s a move that underscores the high stakes of this trial, where the DOJ is pushing to dismantle Google’s empire—potentially forcing the sale of Chrome, the browser that powers 65% of global web traffic. Meanwhile, other tech players like OpenAI and Yahoo are circling, each eyeing a piece of Google’s crown jewel.

So, what’s going on here? Why is Chrome suddenly up for grabs, and why does a company like Perplexity—barely three years old—think it can take on a browser that’s synonymous with the internet itself? Let’s unpack this unfolding drama, from Google’s legal woes to Perplexity’s ambitions and what it all means for the future of how we browse the web.

Google’s monopoly problem

The trial is the culmination of years of scrutiny over Google’s dominance. Last summer, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta dropped a bombshell, ruling that Google illegally maintained a monopoly in online search by locking up default positions on browsers and devices through exclusionary contracts. Think billions of dollars paid to Apple to keep Google as Safari’s default search engine. Fast forward to April 2025, and another federal judge, Leonie Brinkema, ruled that Google’s ad tech business is also an illegal monopoly, manipulating markets to squeeze out competitors.

These twin blows have landed Google in hot water. The current trial, now in its “remedies” phase, is about what to do about it. The DOJ isn’t pulling punches. They’re pushing for structural changes, including forcing Google to sell Chrome, which they argue is a “gateway to search” responsible for 35% of all queries. They also want to ban Google’s exclusive deals with phone makers and browsers and possibly even spin off Android.

Google, unsurprisingly, is fighting tooth and nail. They argue that breaking up Chrome could destabilize the internet. Chrome runs on Chromium, an open-source project that powers browsers like Microsoft Edge and Brave. Google warns that a new owner might charge for Chromium or neglect it, sending shockwaves through the industry. They also insist the AI landscape is already competitive, pointing to rivals like Microsoft and Meta.

Amid this legal slugfest, Perplexity’s Shevelenko stepped into the spotlight. His testimony wasn’t just about Chrome—it was a window into how Google’s dominance affects smaller players. He described the “jungle gym” of Android settings users must navigate to make Perplexity their default AI assistant, a process so clunky he needed a colleague’s help (despite being a tech exec). Even when set as default, Perplexity’s assistant lacks the seamless “Hey Google” wake-word functionality, requiring a button press instead.

Shevelenko also revealed how Google’s contracts box out competitors. He recounted talks with phone makers—likely including Motorola—who wanted to preload Perplexity but couldn’t make it the default assistant due to Google’s “gun to [their] head” revenue-sharing agreements. These deals, which Judge Mehta already deemed anti-competitive, tie access to Google’s Play Store or YouTube to preloading Google’s apps, leaving little room for rivals.

But Shevelenko’s boldest moment came when he floated Perplexity as a Chrome buyer. It’s a gutsy move for a company founded in 2022, best known for its AI-powered search engine that competes with Google. Backed by Amazon and valued at $1 billion, Perplexity has ambitions far beyond its size. They’re already building their own browser, Comet, on Chromium’s open-source framework, positioning themselves as a player in the browser wars.

Perplexity isn’t alone in eyeing Chrome. OpenAI’s Nick Turley testified that they’d consider buying it, though Google rebuffed their earlier attempt to integrate its search tech into ChatGPT. Yahoo, a faded internet giant, also threw its hat in the ring, with a senior exec saying they’d bid if Chrome hits the market. Even Brave’s CEO, Brendan Eich, called a Chrome sale a “chance for smaller browsers to thrive.”

Why Chrome matters

Chrome isn’t just a browser—it’s a linchpin of Google’s ecosystem. With over 2 billion users, it drives roughly 60% of Google’s search volume, which fuels about 60% of its revenue. It’s also a data goldmine, feeding Google’s AI and ad tech with insights into user behavior. Losing Chrome could kneecap Google’s ability to dominate search and AI, especially as generative AI products like ChatGPT and Perplexity’s own assistant challenge traditional search engines.

For buyers like Perplexity, Chrome represents a chance to leapfrog into the big leagues. Running Chrome would give them control over a massive user base and a platform to integrate their AI tools. Perplexity’s Comet browser, for instance, aims to “understand your routines, preferences, and priorities across the web,” raising both opportunities and privacy concerns. But taking on Chrome’s scale—maintaining its speed, security, and open-source ethos—is no small feat. Shevelenko’s confidence aside, skeptics wonder if a startup could handle the technical and financial burden without charging users or cutting corners.

Perplexity’s Chrome pitch isn’t just about browsers—it’s about choice. In a blog post, they argued that Google’s real monopoly lies in its control over Android defaults, not Chrome itself. They want phone makers and carriers to freely offer alternatives without fear of Google’s financial penalties. This stance echoes their recent win: starting April 2025, Perplexity will come pre-installed on all new Motorola phones, complete with a three-month Pro subscription.

Interestingly, Perplexity isn’t cheering for Google’s downfall. Shevelenko praised Google’s products, saying they “build good stuff” that others can iterate on. He even warned against OpenAI buying Chrome, fearing they might ditch Chromium’s open-source model. It’s a nuanced position: Perplexity wants a fairer playing field, not a shattered Google. As Shevelenko put it, “There’s all the self-serving incentive to shout about how evil Google is, and I think we want to be reasonable.”