Perplexity, the AI search platform, has announced that both the US Department of Justice and Google have asked it to provide testimony in the DOJ’s ongoing antitrust lawsuit against Google. 

The case highlights how Google’s search services are default-installed on devices through agreements with carriers and manufacturers, sidelining competitors. For instance, Google pays a substantial amount to Apple to ensure that Google is the default search provider on Apple devices. 

The DOJ is also proposing that Google sell its Chrome browser. This aims to end the online search monopoly, according to the judge’s findings. The DOJ lawyers also deem Chrome to be a ‘significant gateway’ to Google’s search services; therefore, it should remain a separate entity. 

This likely suggests that if Chrome were to become an independent entity, it could also include other search services as defaults. 

In a statement, Perplexity said that the best remedy would be to allow people to choose a search product for themselves, instead of breaking up Google by suggesting it sell Chrome. 

“Consumers deserve the best products, not just the ones that pay the most for placement. This is the only remedy that ensures consumer choice can determine the winners,” said Perplexity. 

“And for OEMs and carriers: you shouldn’t have to pick a side,” added Perplexity. The company also advocates for a ‘healthy ecosystem’ where consumers can choose both Chrome and, say, Perplexity in the same space. 

CEO Aravind Srinivas took to LinkedIn to express his views on the matter. “Google should not be broken up. Chrome should remain within and continue to be run by Google,” he said. 

He also mentioned that the company deserves a lot of credit for open-sourcing the Chromium browser engine, which powers Chrome, along with other browsers like Microsoft Edge and Perplexity’s upcoming Comet. 

“OEMs feel threatened about any changes here even outside the defaults, because of the magnitude of revenue sharing offered to them by Google to preserve the status quo even when better alternatives are available,” he added, while also indicating that Perplexity’s AI assistant is superior to Google’s Gemini. 

That said, Google also recently released a statement, responding to DOJ’s findings. The company says that DOJ’s proposals would make it hard for users to access Google services. 

“People use Google because they want to, not because they have to. DOJ’s proposal would force browsers and phones to default to search services like Microsoft’s Bing, making it harder for you to access Google,” said Google. 

Regarding the separation of Chrome, the company stated that it would introduce cybersecurity and national security risks, as it would disconnect the browser from the company’s technical infrastructure.

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