Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas recently launched a sharp critique against Google, emphasizing the tech giant’s extensive influence over the internet through its search engine and browser products. This commentary highlighted the direct competition between Perplexity’s own AI-powered Comet browser and Google Chrome. Earlier, Srinivas conducted a public poll to determine user preference between the two browsers. Intriguingly, there have been reports suggesting that Perplexity, a leading artificial intelligence firm, had previously attempted to acquire Google Chrome.
Perplexity CEO: The Internet Deserves More Than Single-Handed Control
Srinivas’s controversial statement, “Internet is too important to be left in Google’s Hands,” was shared in a recent social media post. This declaration came shortly after a public poll he conducted, pitting the Comet browser against Chrome, where Comet ultimately fell short.
Earlier that day, the Perplexity CEO had initiated a poll on his profile, asking followers to choose “which is better” between Comet and Google Chrome. Roughly 14 hours later, with Chrome leading by a narrow 51-49 percent margin, Srinivas posted a follow-up, acknowledging, “Have a lot more work to do to improve Comet to get way further ahead of Chrome. This is a great start.” This positive outlook on future development was immediately succeeded by his pointed remark regarding Google’s overarching influence.
Such pronouncements from Srinivas are consistent with Perplexity’s strategic positioning. Since its inception in December 2022 as an AI answer engine, the company has directly challenged Google in the competitive search market. Perplexity has seen significant growth, reportedly boasting 22 million active users and handling 780 million monthly search queries as of June.
The rivalry intensified earlier this year with the introduction of Comet, Perplexity’s AI-powered browser. Given that Google Chrome maintains a dominant market share of around 63.83 percent (according to September 2025 data from a web analytics firm), it naturally becomes the primary competitor for any new browser. Unlike Chrome, Comet integrates an AI assistant and agentic capabilities, and initial assessments have positioned it as a top contender in the emerging AI browser landscape.
Perplexity’s CEO is not alone in raising concerns about Google’s internet monopoly. In September, the US Department of Justice publicly deemed Google’s control over the distribution of its internet-centric products, including Chrome, as illegal. This significant declaration followed the DOJ’s success in securing substantial remedies against Google in an ongoing antitrust lawsuit, highlighting a wider movement to address the tech giant’s market power.