Perplexity Just Bid $34 Billion to Buy Google Chrome
4IR - Daily AI News
Welcome back to 4IR. Here's today's lineup:
Perplexity bids $34.5B for Google Chrome in antitrust power play - when your valuation is $18B but you bid $34B anyway
OpenAI says it's "willing to run at a loss" after GPT-5 launch - Sam Altman's scorched earth strategy
OpenAI drops open-source models, first since GPT-2 - 117B parameters on a single GPU
🔥 TOP STORY: Perplexity's $34.5B Chrome gambit could reshape search forever
The story: Perplexity AI submitted an unsolicited $34.5 billion bid for Google Chrome on August 12, nearly double the company's own $18 billion valuation. The audacious offer positions Chrome's acquisition as an antitrust remedy to break Google's search monopoly, with the browser valued between $20-50 billion by analysts. Perplexity argues Chrome's 3 billion users would create instant distribution for AI-powered search alternatives, fundamentally disrupting Google's $175 billion search advertising business.
What we know:
Bid submitted August 12 at $34.5 billion
Perplexity valued at $18 billion (half the bid amount)
Chrome has 3 billion active users globally
Browser generates estimated $20B annual revenue for Google
Antitrust ruling could force divestiture by year-end
Justice Department considering Chrome separation as remedy
Why it matters: This isn't about Perplexity actually buying Chrome—it's about framing the narrative. By putting a number on the table, Perplexity forces regulators to consider Chrome's value as a standalone entity. If Google must divest, whoever controls Chrome controls the gateway to the internet for 3 billion people. That's worth betting twice your company's value.
The real play here is forcing Google to defend Chrome's integration while simultaneously making every potential buyer—Microsoft, Apple, Oracle—show their cards. Perplexity just turned an antitrust case into an auction.
💰 INFRASTRUCTURE: Celestial AI raises $255M to fix AI's physics problem
The story: Celestial AI closed a $255 million Series C1 on August 13, developing optical interconnects to replace the copper wires bottlenecking AI infrastructure. The company's Photonic Fabric technology uses light instead of electricity for data transmission, solving the power and heat challenges that limit current AI scaling. Samsung Catalyst Fund and VentureTech Alliance led the round, with TSMC partnership for volume manufacturing already secured.
What we know:
$255 million raised at undisclosed valuation
Optical interconnects use 10x less power than copper
Samsung and AMD as strategic investors
TSMC manufacturing partnership confirmed
Technology enables 100x bandwidth increase
Commercial deployment targeting Q2 2026
Why it matters: While everyone obsesses over model capabilities, Celestial is solving the unsexy problem that actually matters: physics. Current AI infrastructure hits thermal and power limits that software can't overcome. Optical interconnects aren't just an improvement—they're the only path to trillion-parameter models that don't melt data centers.
Every AI company talks about scaling to AGI. Celestial is building the pipes that make it physically possible. That's a moat you can't copy-paste from GitHub.
🤖 PARADOX: 87% of executives say AI is critical, only 1% actually use it company-wide
The story: Writer's 2025 enterprise AI survey revealed a stunning disconnect: while 87% of C-suite executives call AI strategically critical and 92% plan increased investment, only 1% have achieved enterprise-wide deployment. The study of 500+ companies found 42% of executives saying AI adoption is "tearing their company apart," with 68% experiencing friction between IT and other departments. Companies with formal AI strategies show 80% success rates versus 37% without.
What we know:
87% say AI is strategically critical
Only 1% achieve enterprise-wide implementation
42% report AI "tearing company apart"
75% of AI budgets exceeded expectations
46% of proof-of-concepts abandoned before production
80% success rate with formal strategy vs 37% without
Why it matters: This is the dirty secret of the AI boom—everyone's buying it, nobody knows how to use it. Companies are spending millions on licenses and infrastructure while their actual implementation fails. The gap between AI investment and AI value creation is becoming a chasm that will define winners and losers.
We're watching the enterprise software playbook in reverse: usually companies buy tech they need. With AI, they're buying tech they think they should need, then figuring out what to do with it. That never ends well.
🛠️ HOW-TO: Make AI presentations that design themselves (using Gamma)
Hate PowerPoint? Here's how to create stunning presentations by just describing what you want:
What Gamma does for you:
Turns a single prompt into complete presentation
AI designs every slide with perfect formatting
Adds relevant images, charts, and data automatically
Exports to PowerPoint, PDF, or live web link
5-Minute Setup:
Sign up – Go to gamma.app and create free account (no credit card)
Describe your presentation – Click "Create new" and type what you need: "10-slide pitch deck for AI startup targeting Series A investors"
Pick a vibe – Choose style: Professional, Creative, Minimal, or Bold. AI adjusts design accordingly
Watch it build – Gamma creates full presentation in 60 seconds with text, images, and formatting
Edit and share – Click any element to edit. Share via link or export to PowerPoint/PDF
Real user applications:
Founders – Pitch decks that actually look like you hired a designer
Sales teams – Custom presentations for each prospect in minutes
Consultants – Client reports that auto-update with fresh data
Teachers – Lesson plans with interactive elements built in
Marketers – Brand-consistent decks without design skills
Pro tips:
Upload your logo for automatic brand consistency
Use "Restyle" to try different looks instantly
Add "/data" to prompts for automatic chart generation
Connect Google Analytics for live data updates
Pricing after free tier:
Free – 400 AI credits (about 10 presentations)
Plus ($10/month) – Unlimited presentations, no watermark
Pro ($20/month) – Custom domains, analytics, priority support
This is PowerPoint's extinction event—why spend hours formatting when AI can design better than you in 60 seconds?
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