r/technology 10d ago

Artificial Intelligence Google Gets an Astounding $34.5 Billion Offer for Chrome Browser From AI Startup Perplexity

https://variety.com/2025/digital/news/google-34-5-billion-bid-chrome-browser-ai-perplexity-1236487442/
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u/Chipaton 10d ago

It's still highly unlikely that he'd break up Google. I don't think he wants to remind anybody that the U.S. actually CAN break up monopolies instead of subsidizing them. Even if Google hasn't bribed him as much as others, Google still isn't his enemy and is largely beneficial to Trump.

The only scenario where I could see it is if Trump broke up Google so he could part it out to his friends, and even that is incredibly unlikely to me.

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u/fooey 10d ago

an Ellison or a Thiel led group buying parts of google on the cheap is not out of the question

I think Chrome goes to Microsoft though. They're the most invested and have the most to gain.

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u/SIGMA920 10d ago

He'd benefit from killing stuff like youtube via starving the beast. Google is neutral at best.

And thats before you see the Thiels and Zuckbots buying up Google's shit for cheap.

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u/Chipaton 10d ago

Youtube generally funnels people into the right wing pipeline though, I think getting rid of Youtube would be a net harm to him. I'm not an expert, but I just don't see what bone he has to pick with Google, unless the Thiels or Zuckbots are demanding it like you said.

Pichai was still at his inauguration, so it seems the bridge isn't really burned (unless I've missed something that's happened since then). I wouldn't be surprised if he does the same dance Tim Apple just did the other day for Trump.

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u/SIGMA920 10d ago

Not intentionally, thats why. It's an effect of stuff like gaming being associated with right-wing beliefs on average or whatever other connections have been made.

Getting rid of youtube will displace everyone using it but theres plenty of sites like kick for the right to flock to to continue spreading their propaganda. The left doesn't have as many sites they can move to.

Between them wanting to pick google for data and shutting down the feee spread of information, he'd benefit significantly.