OpenAI and Yahoo are making headlines as potential buyers of Google’s Chrome browser if a federal judge mandates its sale. Their interest surfaced during the ongoing trial that could reshape Google’s vast online empire.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is pushing for drastic remedies following Judge Amit Mehta’s earlier ruling that Google holds an illegal monopoly in online search. Chrome, being the world’s most widely used web browser with a 66% market share, sits at the center of the conversation.
Executives from both OpenAI and Yahoo testified in court about their intentions. Yahoo’s Search General Manager Brian Provost confirmed that Yahoo, backed by Apollo Global Management, could finance the acquisition. Provost emphasized that acquiring Chrome could elevate Yahoo’s current 3% search market share to double digits. Given Chrome’s dominance over competitors like Apple’s Safari and Microsoft’s Edge, the opportunity is massive.
Meanwhile, Nick Turley, OpenAI’s head of product for ChatGPT’s AI search platform, also expressed strong interest. Turley argued that integrating Chrome with OpenAI’s search services could dramatically expand their reach and improve their product quality, which currently leans on Microsoft’s Bing.
Dmitry Shevelenko of Perplexity AI added that his company, too, would be interested, although he warned that divesting Chrome could endanger Chromium, the open-source project that powers many browsers, including Microsoft Edge.
Google has vigorously opposed any forced sale, arguing that it could disrupt not only Chromium-based browsers but also undermine consumer privacy and security.
As the trial continues, the fate of Chrome hangs in the balance—and with tech giants like OpenAI and Yahoo lined up as suitors, the stakes could not be higher.
