Yahoo ready to buy Chrome if court orders Google sell

In a significant development regarding internet market competition, Yahoo has expressed its readiness to acquire the Chrome web browser should a US federal court mandate Google to divest it as part of an antitrust case. The ongoing trial in Washington is focused on determining appropriate remedies for Google's dominance in internet search—a dominance deemed illegal by a previous ruling from a US judge last year. Brian Provost, general manager for Yahoo Search, recently testified during the trial, highlighting Chrome's critical role in the web ecosystem and estimating its potential sale price in the tens of billions of dollars. This strong interest from Yahoo ties back to their ambitions to bolster their search capabilities in a market increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence and user data analysis. Provost underscored the strategic importance of acquiring the browser by mentioning Yahoo's partnership with Apollo Global Management, its parent company, suggesting a solid financial backing for such an acquisition. The court proceedings have seen Google defending itself against claims of monopolistic practices, with its attorneys arguing that the proposed divestiture would unfairly benefit its competitors. Google's attorney John Schmidtlein dismissed the government's assertions as extreme and fundamentally flawed, advocating that the company's market position was achieved through fair competition. This case’s outcome may not only impact Google's operations but also reshape the web browsing landscape, with potential implications for major tech firms like OpenAI and Perplexity, both of whom have expressed interest in acquiring Chrome to further their own technological advancements. As the hearings continue, they highlight an evolving battle for dominance in the tech industry, where control over essential tools like web browsers is increasingly recognized as vital in leveraging user data and enhancing service delivery.