A US federal judge ruled in August that Google has created and maintained an illegal monopoly on online search. This week, Google was back in court for a remedies trial in that case, to determine what the consequences will be should Google’s appeal of that August ruling fail.
Of the remedies being weighed, one in particular could have major consequences for the tech industry: Google may be forced to divest itself of the Chrome browser. Several companies are naturally eager to get their hands on the world’s most popular browser — including more than one rival AI firm.
Welcome to Compiler, your weekly digest of Google’s goings-on. I spend my days as Google Editor reading and writing about what Google’s up to across Android, Pixel, Gemini, and more, and talk about it all right here in this column. Here’s what’s been on my mind this week.
Per Statista, Google’s Chrome browser is far and away the most popular in the world, accounting for about 65 percent of the global internet browser market in 2024. Apple’s Safari browser trailed at a distant second, coming in under 19 percent. The US Department of Justice has argued that, because of Chrome’s ubiquity, the browser’s tight Google Search integration has helped Google maintain Search’s dominance.
At this stage, it’s unclear whether Google will actually have to part ways with Chrome — the remedies trial is ongoing, and Google’s not out of appeals yet. But several potential buyers have expressed interest in acquiring the browser.
Yahoo, which currently controls about three percent of the desktop search market, has made it clear that it’s interested in owning and operating its own web browser. Yahoo Search General Manager Brian Provost testified that the company is actively working on its own browser, and is also in discussions with other companies about purchasing existing browsers. Provost also testified that Yahoo would be interested in acquiring Chrome, should Google have to sell it. For Yahoo, the advantage in operating a browser — Chrome or otherwise — would be in boosting its own search traffic by promoting Yahoo Search, similarly to how Chrome currently promotes Google Search.
OpenAI and Perplexity want Chrome
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Jules Wang / AP
AI companies have also expressed interest. On Tuesday, ChatGPT chief Nick Turley said in a hearing that OpenAI would be interested in acquiring Chrome if it could, adding that a ChatGPT-integrated Chrome browser “could offer a really incredible experience.”
Perplexity, whose AI now comes preinstalled on Motorola phones thanks to a new partnership, is also eager to take a crack at running Chrome. Chief Business Officer Dmitry Shevelenko testified this week that he believes Perplexity could operate Chrome at its current scale without degrading its quality or charging users.
As Google continues to position itself for an AI-first future, firing workers who develop Android, Pixel, and Chrome while investing in energy infrastructure to better power AI efforts, I’ve remained open to the prospect of Chrome leaving the Google umbrella. I’m not eager for Gemini integration on the web; I just need a fast and secure browser to take me to the sites I want to visit.
But of course, both OpenAI and Perplexity would prioritize infusing AI into Chrome’s DNA. ChatGPT’s Nick Turley said that owning Chrome would give OpenAI the chance to “introduce users into what an AI-first experience looks like.” And Perplexity is at work developing its own browser, Comet, that CEO Aravind Srinivas says will “get data even outside the app to better understand you” so that the browser can show super-specific ads based on your activity. I guess I’m rooting for Yahoo here.
Meanwhile…
We really like the Pixel 9a. In our review of Google’s latest midranger last week, AP Phones Editor Will Sattelberg praised the 9a’s performance and battery life, saying that the phone is the best you can get for $500.
Google’s Veo 2 video generator is rolling out widely in Gemini Advanced. Advanced subscribers can now generate eight-second video clips using simple text prompts, and the results are generally pretty impressive. It’s rumored that a “freemium” version of the feature will eventually make its way to the non-paid Gemini experience, too.
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Gemini is headed to more platforms soon. Google has confirmed that its AI assistant will be available on devices like tablets, smartwatches, and headphones later this year. All AI, no brakes.
