A search rival is arguing against breaking Google up — but has thoughts about Android

Perplexity might be handling Google in search, however its CEO does not desire the tech giant to be separated as part of the DOJ’s landmark antitrust case.

Aravind Srinivas stated in an X post Monday that his business has actually been asked to affirm in the treatment stage of the DOJ’s case, which follows a judge ruled in August that Google had actually breached antitrust guidelines to preserve a monopoly in search.

Srinivas stated he means to affirm that “Chrome must stay within and continue to be run by Google,” however that Android must end up being “more open up to customer option.”

He stated Perplexity’s own upcoming web browser, Comet, is constructed on Chromium– the open-source structure Google developed.

” We do not think anybody else can run a web browser at that scale without a struck on quality, nor business design to be able to serve that numerous users successfully by keeping the web browser complimentary,” Srinivas composed.

Nevertheless, in the exact same posts, he differed with Android, the open-source os owned by Google.

Srinivas stated phone makers are required to utilize a Google-approved variation of Android to gain access to apps like the Play Shop and Maps, which indicates setting Google services as defaults.

That restricts customer option, he stated, and obstructs options like Perplexity’s AI assistant. Perplexity, established in 2022, fields over 100 million search inquiries weekly, Srinivas stated in October.

Google has actually paid billions, consisting of $20 billion to Apple, to be the default search supplier on smart devices, according to court files.

” The treatment that is best in our viewpoint,” Srinivas advanced X, “is not a break up of Google, however rather using customers the option to select their defaults on Android without feeling the danger of a loss in earnings.”

Proposed solutions consist of splitting off Chrome or Android, ending search revenue-sharing offers, or needing Google to share search information with rivals. Google has stated it will appeal.

A 2nd DOJ case, concentrated on Google’s supremacy in digital marketing, likewise moved into the treatment stage today.

Google did not instantly react to a Service Expert ask for remark.