Perplexity’s Chrome Play, OU’s AI Officer, and Claude’s Beltway Breakout

If you thought August would be a sleepy month in tech, think again. Do those even exist anymore?

Today’s daily brief dives into the $34.5 billion bid Perplexity just lobbed at Google for Chrome (yes, you read that right), the University of Oklahoma’s move to put AI in the C-suite, and Anthropic’s latest push to charm Washington with Claude.

Let’s unpack it.

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Perplexity wants Chrome. Google isn't laughing.

Perplexity’s not new to bold moves.

Back in January, the startup submitted a proposal to merge with TikTok, betting it could help the embattled video giant survive Congress’s divestment ultimatum. That deal hasn’t materialized (yet).

Now, they’re swinging even harder: a $34.5 billion unsolicited bid for Google’s Chrome browser. Yes, the same Chrome browser that holds over 60% of global market share and serves as one of Google's primary data and revenue pipelines. It’s also the same one the DOJ ruled Google to divest of back in 2024, after ruling they illegally held a monopoly in internet search.

Their offer is nearly double Perplexity’s own valuation, which recently hit $18 billion in a July extension round. But insiders say multiple investors are backing the offer, signaling strong conviction behind Perplexity’s land-grab for browser dominance.

It’s a moonshot, sure. But it’s also a move that signals where the AI stack battles are headed next.

The why:

• Perplexity is betting that distribution will be more important than model supremacy. Whoever controls the gateway (aka your browser) controls the query.

• With Chrome, Perplexity could bypass Google Search entirely and plug its AI-native search assistant into a platform used by 3 billion+ devices.

• The offer comes on the heels of Perplexity’s rapid climb, now valued at over $18 billion and stealing mindshare (and search volume) from Google among tech-savvy early adopters.

The enterprise read:

• Browser wars are becoming AI wars. If Chrome goes AI-native, expect radical shifts in how we all access information.

• We’re entering a world where traditional SaaS integrations may give way to browser-based copilots as the default interface for work.

• For enterprises already building internal AI search tools: time to consider your distribution edge.

Spoiler: Google is unlikely to sell, but the disruption has already begun.

News You Need

1. OU Appoints First-Ever University-Wide Chief AI Officer
   The University of Oklahoma just created a new executive role: Chief AI Officer. Dr. Amy McGovern will oversee strategy, research integration, and ethical use across all departments, making OU one of the first major U.S. universities to institutionalize AI at this level.
   Read more →

2. UK Regulators Investigate AI’s Role in Bank Discrimination
   Britain’s Equalities and Human Rights Commission launched a probe into whether AI algorithms are fueling bias in lending and banking practices. Enterprise AI compliance officers: this is your cue to double-check those risk dashboards.
   Read more →

3. Anthropic Offers Claude for U.S. Government Use
   Anthropic announced it will make Claude available to federal agencies through a new government-tailored offering. The goal: compete with OpenAI and Palantir in the race to win federal AI procurement.
   Read more →

TL;DR:

• Perplexity wants Chrome. The $34.5B bid is bold (and unlikely), but also signals a shift toward browser-based AI distribution.

• OU adds a Chief AI Officer. Expect more universities to follow suit.

• AI-native browser = future of work. Your employees may soon search, summarize, and execute workflows directly from their browser.

• Anthropic eyes the feds. Claude is being offered to government agencies in a bid to gain trust and scale.

• AI regulation heats up. UK’s discrimination probe is a warning for global compliance teams.

The browser is the new battleground. And it’s not just about search, it's about owning the interface to intelligence itself.

If Perplexity cracks the Chrome shell, it could change how enterprises build, access, and govern knowledge.

Stay sharp,

Cat Valverde
Founder, Enterprise AI Solutions
Navigating Tomorrow’s Tech Landscape Together