Perplexity's $34.5 billion bet on Chrome

Welcome to AI Toast!

Today’s Menu:

• Perplexity’s bonkers $34.5 billion Chrome bid

• White House wants a piece of Intel

• Killer apps for job seekers

• A dev tool that ships code like a boss

• Quick AI Toasts: from smart glasses to superintelligent debates

Total read time: About 5 minutes, perfect for a quick coffee break.

Perplexity's $34.5 billion bet on Chrome

Perplexity just made news by offering to buy Google Chrome for $34.5 billion, which is twice what their own company is worth.The daring move comes at a time when Google is under antitrust pressure that could lead to the sale of Chrome.

• The Offer: Perplexity AI made a $34.5 billion all-cash bid for Chrome, despite the fact that its own company is only worth $18 billion.

• Timing: The bid comes at the same time as Google's antitrust case, in which US judges declared that Google has an illegitimate search monopoly and may have to sell Chrome.

• Funding Claims: It is said that several anonymous investment funds have agreed to fully fund the purchase, but the details are not yet known.

• The Promise: Perplexity promises to spend $3 billion on developing Chrome, keep the Chromium code open source, and keep Google as the default search engine.

• Market Reaction: People on the internet thought it was a PR gimmick and brought up Perplexity's unsuccessful TikTok proposal from earlier this year.

Most observers think this is more of a PR stunt than a real attempt to buy something. Google doesn't want to sell Chrome, and it's not officially for sale.

Personal Take: We're seeing the start of business warfare in the AI era. Perplexity isn't really trying to buy Chrome; they're positioning themselves as the inevitable Google disruptor when regulation finally breaks up Big Tech's monopolies.

White House Eyes Stake in Intel: Bold Chip Bid

Amid concerns about U.S. tech competitiveness, the Trump administration is considering acquiring a stake in Intel, igniting both Wall Street and Washington discussions. Once America's crown jewel, Intel now needs catch up with global rivals.

• President Trump met Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan this week, discussing government investment options.

• The deal aims to revive Intel’s lagging manufacturing efforts, especially a delayed Ohio plant.

• Intel shares soared over 7% following news of these talks; Wall Street is watching closely.

• The possible agreement reflects a broader drive for U.S. leadership in semiconductors and tech.

• Such a move is part of new, bold public-private partnerships encouraged by the administration.

• White House officials emphasize that the deal is still in the speculative stage and not yet signed.

• Intel, for its part, reaffirmed its commitment to American tech strength but wouldn’t comment on specific rumors.

If done, this deal could reinvigorate not just Intel but the U.S. tech manufacturing landscape. For now, anticipation is high and the world is watching.

Personal Take: This move also opens a Pandora's box. The line between the public and private sectors may become less clear, which could lead to the government getting involved in additional industries, claiming them as "strategic" investments. It could lead to market distortion, business freedom, and global competitiveness, especially if other countries do the same thing.

Build smarter with GPT-5 in Augment Code

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• Pick any model: Sonnet 4 for speed, GPT-5 for deep reasoning. You can use the new Model Picker in Augment’s panel.

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• When to switch: Use Sonnet for quick edits and tests; switch to GPT-5 for complex debugging.

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Superhero Tools (Job Hunting)

BetterPic: Instantly turns your selfies into high-quality, professional headshots using AI—perfect for LinkedIn and business profiles.

eztrackr: Makes your job hunt easier by organizing all your job applications in one place with an easy-to-use Kanban board and powerful tracking tools.

Kickresume: Lets you quickly create beautiful, recruiter-approved resumes and cover letters with smart templates and guidance.

ChatGPT: Can help improve your resume and get you ready for interviews with AI-generated tips, feedback, and mock questions.

Yoodli: Provides real-time, AI-powered interview coaching, including practice questions, instant feedback, and communication tips to boost your confidence.

Payscale: Lets you see what your skills are worth with detailed salary information and market comparisons for any job.

Quick AI News Bites

• HTC has unveiled its Vive Eagle smart glasses, which use AI for translation, reminders, and recommendations. The device features built-in speakers, a camera, and real-time image translation and will compete in the global AI eyewear race.

• Humanloop has joined Anthropic, marking the end of its standalone platform as the team redirects its efforts toward safer, larger AI projects.

• Geoffrey Hinton, the “godfather of AI,” believes humanity can only survive superintelligent AI by giving machines emotional instincts to care for humans. He warns that merely controlling AI won't work and urges compassion-driven AI systems.

• A new study reveals that AI browser assistants are collecting and sometimes sharing sensitive user data without proper consent or transparency, raising privacy alarms.

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— Poonam Soni

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