Perplexity already has an AI browser, Comet, that can perform certain tasks on a user’s behalf and acquiring Chrome would give it the heft to better compete against bigger rivals such as OpenAI

The bid, far below the $50 billion value some analysts estimate, comes as U.S. regulators push for Chrome’s potential divestiture following a court ruling that found Google held an unlawful search monopoly. 

Deepfake audio and video technologies, which previously required significant resources and expertise, are now commoditized and easily available on marketplaces on the dark web