Perplexity Launches Comet: An AI-Powered Web Browser to Challenge Google's Dominance

Perplexity launches Comet, an AI-powered web browser | TechCrunch

Perplexity on Wednesday launched its first AI-powered web browser, called Comet, marking the startup's latest effort to challenge Google Search as the primary avenue people use to find information online. At launch, Comet will be available first to subscribers of Perplexity's $200-per-month Max plan, as well as a small group of invitees that signed up to a waitlist. Comet's headline feature is Perplexity's AI search engine, which is pre-installed and set as the default, putting the company's core product -- AI generated summaries of search results -- front and center. Users can also access Comet Assistant, a new AI agent from Perplexity that lives in the web browser and aims to automate routine tasks. Perplexity says the assistant can summarize emails and calendar events, manage tabs, and navigate webpages on behalf of users. Users can access Comet Assistant by opening a sidecar on any webpage, which lets the AI agent see what's on the webpage and answer questions about it. Perplexity has released several products and initiatives in recent months, but none feel quite as consequential as Comet. The company's CEO, Aravind Srinivas, has significantly hyped up Comet's launch in particular, perhaps because he sees it as vital in Perplexity's battle against Google. With Comet, Perplexity is aiming to reach users directly without having to go through Google Chrome, the most popular browser currently. While AI-powered browsers present uncharted territory for many users, Google itself seems convinced this is the direction browsers are headed: the Search giant has deployed several AI integrations into Chrome in recent months, not to mention AI mode, an AI search product with a striking resemblance to Perplexity. Srinivas said in March that his goal with Comet was to "develop an operating system with which you can do almost everything," enabling Perplexity's AI to help users across apps and websites. Becoming the default browser for users can translate to "infinite retention," Srinivas said in June, which would ostensibly lead to more requests on Perplexity. That said, Comet is entering a crowded arena. While Google Chrome and Apple's Safari hold most of the market, The Browser Company launched an AI-powered browser, Dia, in June that seems to offer many of the same features as Comet. OpenAI has also reportedly considered launching its own browser to compete with Google, and has even hired some key members from the original Google Chrome team in the last year. Comet could get an initial leg up in the browser wars if a meaningful chunk of Perplexity users sign up for the product. Srinivas recently said that Perplexity saw 780 million queries in May 2025, and that the company's search products are seeing more than 20% growth month-over-month. Taking on Google Search is no small task, but Perplexity seems to have the right idea by launching a browser of its own. But the startup's team may find it even harder to convince users to switch browsers than weaning them off Google Search. The most unique aspect of this browser seems to be Comet Assistant. During our testing, we found Comet's AI agent to be surprisingly helpful for simple tasks, but it quickly falls apart when given more complex requests. Using Comet Assistant to its fullest potential also requires you to hand over an uncomfortable level of access to Perplexity. My favorite way to use Comet Assistant, so far, is loading it in the sidecar while I'm browsing the web. Perplexity's on-browser AI agent can automatically see what I'm looking at, so I can simply ask it questions without needing to open a new window or copy and paste text or links. It's right there, and it always has the context for what I'm looking at. Comet Assistant was able to answer questions about posts on social media, YouTube videos, and even sentences I just wrote in a Google Doc. I imagine this will streamline workflows for millions of people that are sending screenshots, files, and links to ChatGPT all day. Next, I tried getting Comet Assistant to look through my Google Calendar. But before I could do so, I had to give Perplexity significant access to my Google Account -- a lot of access. Just look at how long this list is. I have to say, giving Perplexity permission to view my screen, send emails, look at my contacts, and add events to my Calendar made me a little uneasy. But it seems AI agents need this kind of access to be useful. Nevertheless, Comet Assistant did a reasonably good job looking through my Calendar. It notified me about some upcoming events, and offered me some advice on when to leave my home, and how to navigate public transit, to get to those events. The assistant was also able to summarize emails I received that morning from noteworthy senders -- in my case, important startups and tech companies with upcoming news. I've found that AI agents have a very difficult time parsing through what's important in an email inbox, but Comet Assistant fared pretty well. But Comet Assistant fails at more complicated tasks. For example, I tried asking it to help me find a long-term parking spot at San Francisco's airport for an upcoming trip, specifically places with good reviews that cost less than $15 a day. The assistant offered up several options that seemed to fit the criteria, so I asked it to book me a spot at one of the locations for the dates I'd be away. The agent navigated the parking lot's website for me, entered in dates, and even some of my information, then asked me to review what it did and check-out. Turns out, Comet Assistant hallucinated and entered completely wrong dates, later telling me that the dates I wanted were booked, but still wanted to have me complete the check-out anyways. I had to tell the AI agent that the dates were non-negotiable, and asked it to find another location. It ran into the same problem again. AI agents that mess up key details like this are not new. My experience with OpenAI's agent, Operator, and Perplexity's previous shopping agent yielded similar results. Clearly, hallucinations stand in the way of these products becoming real tools. Until AI companies can solve them, AI agents will still be a novelty for complex tasks. Nevertheless, Comet does seem to offer some new capabilities that may just give Perplexity a leg up over the competition in the modern browser wars.

Perplexity just launched an AI web browser

Emma Roth is a news writer who covers the streaming wars, consumer tech, crypto, social media, and much more. Previously, she was a writer and editor at MUO. Perplexity, the startup behind the AI "answer" engine, has just launched its own web browser. The browser, called Comet, incorporates Perplexity's AI search tools and assistant in a way that CEO Aravind Srinivas says "transforms entire browsing sessions into single, seamless interactions." Comet will only be available to users who subscribe to the $200 per month Perplexity Max plan before rolling out more widely on an invite-only basis. The browser uses Perplexity as its primary search engine, which serves up AI-generated responses to queries based on results from around the web. It's also supposed to be able to buy products on your behalf and help you book hotels. The new AI-powered browser comes as Perplexity continues to challenge Google's dominance in search. Perplexity partnered with Motorola to pre-install its assistant on its new Razr phones this year, something Srinvas told The Verge in April that the startup wouldn't have happened if Google hadn't gone through an antitrust trial. "They would have bullied a lot of the OEMs," Srinvas said. Comet is built on Chromium, the Google-backed open-source project powering major browsers like Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Perplexity has expressed interest in buying Chrome if the court forces Google to sell the browser. Srinvas said in April that Perplexity is launching a browser because it "might be the best way to build agents." Aside from the Perplexity's search integration, Comet comes with a built-in AI assistant that can answer questions about what you're seeing on your screen, similar to Gemini's integration with Google Chrome. The AI assistant lives in Comet's sidebar, and in addition to summarizing or explaining text, it can also carry out agentic tasks like booking a meeting, sending an email, or buying a product. Srinivas says Perplexity plans to "continue to launch new features and functionality for Comet" in the future. The browser is only available on Windows and Mac for now, and also allows you to import your extensions, settings, and bookmarks in "one click."

Perplexity's Comet AI browser is hurtling toward Chrome - how to try it

AI search start-up Perplexity has ramped up its competition with Google by releasing Comet, its new web browser, on Wednesday. Built upon Perplexity's proprietary search engine, Comet is compatible with "all of your usual extensions, settings, and bookmarks," according to a Perplexity blog, meaning it's "a seamless switch" to make it your new default browser. It's initially being launched for Mac and Windows, with support on other platforms expected to arrive in the coming months. Also: Perplexity joins high-powered, high-priced AI race - here's everything 'Max' includes Perplexity CEO and cofounder Aravind Srivinas wrote on X Thursday morning that Comet would be available on Android devices soon. "Comet reimagines the browser from the ground up," Perplexity wrote on its website. "It actively helps you ask, understand, and remember what you see. It connects the dots at lightning speed and assists with distracting tasks that steal your focus." In the spirit of collaboration, Comet comes with its own AI agent, Comet Assistant, which is integrated directly into the browser and upon which users can offload a variety of simple and mundane tasks. Also: How to install Perplexity AI's app on Linux (I found an easier way) You can ask the agent to go through your unread emails in the morning, pull out the messages from your coworkers, and provide a quick summary of each. That requires, of course, handing over your email data to Perplexity; the same goes for your personal calendar, notes app, or anything else you'd like Comet Assistant to be able to interact with and extract information from. It's a good idea to review your workplace's AI policy, if it has one, or check with a superior before leaking any potentially sensitive information to Perplexity or any other chatbot. Comet is currently available to subscribers of the company's $200-per-month premium service, Perplexity Max, and to a cohort of early users who were invited after joining a waitlist. Launched in 2022, Perplexity's search engine leverages a collection of large language models (LLMs) to respond to user queries with AI-generated summaries, links to sources, and suggestions for follow-up questions. The company has marketed itself as the next phase in the evolution of online search, with the long-term goal of usurping the dominant model, pioneered by Google, of responding to user queries with a list of relevant web links. Also: I tried Perplexity's assistant, and only one thing stops it from being my default phone AI At the same time, however, Google is building a new future of Search with its controversial AI Overviews and the more recently released AI Mode, which operates a lot like Perplexity. Meanwhile, executives at Apple, have reportedly floated the idea of buying the up-and-coming AI search start-up, potentially to improve Safari. Even with the launch of its new web browser, which will compete with the likes of Google Chrome and Safari, Perplexity has a long way to go before it replaces Google as the default search engine for the majority of the population. Google's model has been inimical to exploration and learning, according to Perplexity: "the web -- our greatest source of information -- was never designed to nurture curiosity; instead we've been asked to 'browse' it through a one-way lens," the company says on its website. The implication, of course, is that the company's new model of web search represents a collaboration between humans and AI, both actively engaging one another to ask deeper questions and discover new knowledge. Also: Google's AI Overviews will decimate your business - here's what you need to do Still, the online search industry's accelerating drift towards generative AI strongly suggests that the strength of Perplexity's position will only continue to grow over time.

I tried Perplexity's Comet AI browser - here's what you need to know

An agentic browser, Comet isn't just a web browser with AI glued to it, as are Chrome with Gemini and Edge with Copilot. It's designed from the ground up to use AI to automate tasks and improve your workflow. Also: Perplexity's Comet AI browser is hurtling toward Chrome - how to try it Its architecture is built around an AI assistant, Comet Assistant, that lives in a sidebar. There, it can work on the content of any active webpage. So, for instance, you can ask questions about YouTube videos, analyze Google Docs, or summarize articles without leaving your page or other open tabs. You can also use it to perform such tasks as booking meetings, making purchases, or signing up for services. In short, Comet Assistant is context-aware, able to reference open tabs for research, summarize content inline, and answer questions about web pages without copy-pasting. This is especially useful for tasks like comparing products across sites or analyzing information on the fly. If you're the kind of person who keeps dozens of tabs open when you're working on a problem, you'll love how Comet can pull information from all your tabs to give you answers. The answers themselves come from the main Perplexity Large Language Model (LLM). As before, I found Perplexity to give good answers, generally speaking. Better still, since Perplexity cites sources for everything it tells you, it's easy to ensure its responses are accurate. Let me add, for those of you who want AI to solve all your questions without work, you need to check those citations. Like all LLMs, Perplexity still frequently gets facts wrong. Always, always double-check its responses. Comet is built on Google's open-source Chromium -- yes, it's yet another Chrome-based browser -- so it should be compatible with almost all Chrome extensions, and seamlessly import your bookmarks and settings. That proved to be the case when I tested Comet on my Apple 2023 Mac Mini with an M2 processor and 8 GB of RAM running macOS Sequoia 15.5. Indeed, the setup process took mere moments, with all my Chrome bookmarks, extensions, and logins transferring over smoothly. For now, the only way you can install and run Comet is on a Mac with an M processor. Comet will not run on an Intel-powered Mac. I know. I tried it just for giggles on my Intel-based Mac mini. I liked my old Macs, but it's past time to move on. Eventually, you'll be able to run Comet on Windows, but it won't be in the next few days. Sometime after that, Comet will be available on Linux. While the browser itself is free -- and always will be -- for now, you must also be a Perplexity Max tier subscriber, which costs $200 per month to use it fully. Even then, not everyone will get it immediately. Perplexity is rolling it out gradually to waitlisted users. As users are added, new ones will receive a limited number of invites to share. Also: Perplexity joins high-powered, high-priced AI race - here's everything 'Max' includes If you can't wait, you can download the program for the Mac today. However, it won't be fully functional unless you've received an invitation. The one feature you will be able to use in Perplexity will be able to read your current tabs and use their information to answer your queries. You'll also frequently see an error message telling you, "Your Comet experience is restricted." Once I had it installed, I found it worked quickly, but its performance wasn't outstanding. Rather than just relying on my impression, I benchmarked the program with Speedometer 3.1. This is an open-source web browser benchmark that measures Web application responsiveness by timing simulated user interactions on various workloads across many popular JavaScript frameworks and technologies such as React, Angular, and Vue. Started by Apple, Speedometer is now under the guidance of Apple, Google, Intel, Microsoft, and Mozilla. On Speedometer, Comet had a score of 29.3, while Chrome 138, the latest version, scored 34.3. Keep in mind, however, as a beta program, Comet contains code that hasn't been optimized for speed yet. I'm sorry to report that some of Comet's features are still not working well. In particular, Comet Assistance promises it could do all kinds of neat things with my Gmail and Google Calendar accounts, such as answering emails, booking appointments on my schedule, you know, the usual "How AI will make your life easier stuff." Spoiler alert: It failed. Also: I loved Arc browser and was skeptical of its agentic Dia replacement - until I tried it Built on Google's Chromium, it should work smoothly with Google services. It doesn't. Specifically, while Perplexity Comet is designed to integrate with Gmail and Google Calendar and automate associated tasks, I had a heck of a time authenticating my Gmail account with it. My problem was that Perplexity Connector and Google kept refusing to sync with each other. Even after I got it nailed down, while Comet Assistant could read, summarize, and search emails or calendar events, it often failed to perform more advanced actions like sending emails, replying, or managing calendar invites. This is due to conflicts with Google security restrictions, which prevent third-party tools from executing specific actions on a user's behalf without explicit, repeated authorization. In many cases, Comet provided manual follow-up instructions, but that was a pain. Of course, if privacy is a concern, you don't want to use Comet at all. While it includes a native ad blocker out of the box, according to its privacy policy, "Your input and output, such as questions, prompts and other content that you input, upload or submit to the Services, and the output that you create, and any collections or pages that you generate using the Services" will be kept by the company. So, if you give it access to your Google account, any data pulled from it will be in Perplexity's hands as well. This should not be a shock. If you use AI, AI will use your data. If you're willing to make the trade, any AI system will make that deal with you. I like what Comet is trying to do, but it's just not there yet. Give it time. I think Perplexity will get it there. In the meantime, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has grand dreams for Comet. At the June Bloomberg Tech Summit, he said, "If people are in the browser, it's infinite retention. Everything in the search bar, everything on the new tab page, everything you're doing on the sidecar, any of the pages you're in, these are all going to be extra queries per active user, as well as seeking new users who just are tired of legacy browsers, like Chrome." Yes, you're not reading between the lines, Google and Chrome are the target.

Perplexity's AI Browser Comet Is Here, But Early Access Will Cost $200 Per Month

If you have used Perplexity AI, Comet's homepage will seem familiar. When you drop a query, the results page will show curated responses we have grown used to seeing on AI chatbots. You can click on the links in the results page to visit the sources. Compared to traditional browsers, Comet has a lot more features baked into its UI. For example, while surfing, you can click on the "Assistant" button at the top right to generate summaries and ask follow-up questions. The same works for videos you have watched as well. It can automatically close files and tabs you haven't interacted with previously. And once you have linked your Gmail and calendar, it can brief your schedule for the day, find answers to questions about your inbox, and also take agentic-AI actions like sending emails and scheduling meetings based on your prompts. You can also ask Comet to buy something on your behalf. It also has a few other AI features for travel, food, and other activities. You can check out the complete list on the website. If you plan to make Comet your go-to browser, you can take your existing extensions and bookmarks with you. Just go to Comet Settings > Import. It's not a full-fledged launch yet. Early access is still invite-only for select Mac and Windows users with a $200-per-month Perplexity Max subscription. In the future, the AI startup will open up its browser to free users and support more operating systems.

Perplexity Comet browser takes aim at Google Chrome

Perplexity has released its own web browser called Comet, and it's clearly aimed at Google. The AI search upstart has taken a page straight out of Google's playbook to try and supplant it: Comet comes with Perplexity AI search as the default search engine, a position The Chocolate Factory has fought to keep in various third-party browsers and platforms with a series of contracts, some of which a court has ruled to be anticompetitive. To understand just how valuable it is to be the default search engine in a browser, consider that Google paid $26 billion in 2021 to have its search engine set as the default in various browsers. Apple alone received about $20 billion from Google in 2022, so that Google Search would be the default search engine in Safari. Comet attempts to capture some of that value by setting its own search service as the default and adding various AI capabilities that support automation and natural language interaction. It's available now for macOS and Windows to those paying $200 per month for a Perplexity Max subscription, and presumably will be available for less costly tiers in the coming months. According to the company, "Comet and Perplexity are free for all users and always will be." Ironically, Google itself actually made Comet possible - it's a customization built on its Chromium browser platform. Perplexity says it built Comet "to amplify our intelligence." But that's arguably a very simplified version of its goals. Like Google, Perplexity sees value in employing user data to personalize the browsing experience - and, perhaps, sell ads. During an interview on the TBPN tech podcast in April, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas cited personalized advertising as one of the reasons to build a browser, noting that you need "memory" - the ability to retain the information provided in and produced by prompts to AI models - to make personalization work. "We plan to use all the context to build a better user profile and maybe, you know, through our discover feed we could show some ads there," he said, only to later insist that he was speaking hypothetically. Non-hypothetically, Comet includes "Personal Search with Comet Intelligence that analyzes your browsing history to retrieve relevant information." In what might be seen as another jab at Google, Comet also comes with "built-in AdBlock for a cleaner browsing experience." Perplexity did not immediately respond to a request for comment. We wonder whether the AdBlock referenced refers to legitimate, non-commercial open source ad blocking (e.g. uBlock Origin) or ad blocking run by an ad tech firm to collect data and allow certain ads in exchange for payment. Perplexity also argues that browsing the web is just better with AI and natural language interaction. "Comet transforms entire browsing sessions into single, seamless interactions, collapsing complex workflows into fluid conversations," the company muses in its launch blog post. "Ask Comet to book a meeting or send an email, based on something you saw. Ask Comet to buy something you forgot. Ask Comet to brief you for your day." In other words, Comet users can use natural language commands - typed or spoken, assuming audio input is enabled - to manage tabs. What's more, Comet includes a Gmail connector for asking the AI service to perform email and calendar queries. Perplexity suggests Comet can be used to: "summarize videos you've watched; close files and tabs you haven't touched in days; group your research tabs into collections; show you who you're meeting with;" and other sorts of online interactions. There's also an Ask Button that promises to provide contextual information about web pages, and a Summarize button for those who can't be bothered with reading more than a few words. The thing is, none of this really requires a dedicated browser. OpenAI's Operator provides a way to automate browsing sessions and interact with the web either programmatically or through a chat interface. Anthropic's Claude is capable of browser use. But owning the browser provides access to a lot of downstream activity and data, and offers opportunities to strike deals with other vendors to make their services interoperate more effectively with AI agents. "LLMs are essentially confident-sounding lying machines with a penchant to occasionally disclose private data or plagiarise existing work," explained software developer Julien Picalausa in a blog post last year. "While they do this, they also use vast amounts of energy and are happy using all the GPUs you can throw at them, which is a problem we've seen before in the field of cryptocurrencies. "As such, it does not feel right to bundle any such solution into Vivaldi." Meanwhile, the 800-pound gorilla of AI isn't standing still. According to Reuters, OpenAI is planning a browser of its own. ®

Nvidia-backed Perplexity launches AI-powered browser to take on Google Chrome

July 9 (Reuters) - Nvidia-backed Perplexity AI said on Wednesday it has launched Comet, a new web browser with AI-powered search capabilities, as the startup looks to challenge the dominance of market leader Alphabet's (GOOGL.O), opens new tab Google Chrome. The launch marks Perplexity AI's entry into the competitive browser market, aiming to replace traditional navigation with agentic AI that can think, act, and decide on behalf of users. Google Chrome held a commanding 68% share of the global browser market in June, according to StatCounter, cementing its position as the world's most widely used browser -- far ahead of Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox. Comet enables users to ask questions, perform tasks, and conduct research in a single, unified interface. The browser integrates a built-in assistant that can compare products, summarize content, book meetings, and transform complex workflows into simple, conversational experiences. Comet is currently available to subscribers who pay $200 per month for Perplexity Max, with broader access rolling out via invite over the summer. Backed by high-profile investors like Jeff Bezos, SoftBank , and Nvidia (NVDA.O), opens new tab, Perplexity is leveraging the launch of Comet to directly challenge incumbents such as Google's Chrome and Microsoft's Edge, while also exploring new revenue streams in advertising and e-commerce. Last year, OpenAI added a search engine to ChatGPT and recently made the service available to all of its users. Google also introduced an AI-powered search feature, called AI Overviews, last May. Comet stores data locally and avoids model training on personal information -- a move likely to appeal to privacy-conscious users. However, the company has come under criticism from media organizations such as News Corp-owned outlets (NWSA.O), opens new tab, Forbes and Wired, and Wall Street Journal parent Dow Jones for using their content without consent or compensation. Perplexity has responded by launching a publisher partnership program to collaborate with news outlets. Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab Suggested Topics:Artificial Intelligence

Perplexity's Comet AI browser is available now for $200 per month

Comet, Perplexity's AI-powered web browser, is available now for people paying for the company's $200 per month Perplexity Max subscription. The company offered the browser in a beta form for select Windows users in June, but now it'll join Google Chrome and The Browser Company's Dia in incorporating AI models directly into web browsing experience. At its simplest, Comet is a streamlined browser (built on Chrome's browser tech) that uses Perplexity as its default search engine. At any point you can call up the company's AI in a sidebar to ask questions, summarize text, and critical to the company's pitch for the future of AI, take actions for you, like sending an email, looking up directions on Google Maps or purchasing a product. Perplexity's search results pull information from the web into AI-generated answer, just like ChatGPT or Gemini, with all of the doubts around accuracy that implies. Like its competitors, Perplexity has crawled the web for training data to feed its AI and has even been sued by publications for allegedly allowing its search engine to reproduce news articles in their entirety when prompted. The company has been open about its interest to use web browsers to collect customer data for target ads. Perplexity even wants to purchase Chrome, assuming Google is forced to spin it off as a result of its antitrust trial. Whether or not that happens, Comet affirms the tech industry's interest in making the web browser the default interface for AI. As it turns out, browser history makes for an excellent way to get a constant stream of new information about a person that AI can leverage. Perplexity says it'll send invites to people on the Comet waitlist over the summer. You can sign up for the waitlist on the company's website, or pay for Perplexity Max and use the new browser right now.

Perplexity launches AI-powered web browser for select group of subscribers

The browser is initially available to Perplexity Max subscribers, who pay $200 a month. Perplexity AI on Wednesday launched a new artificial intelligence-powered web browser called Comet in the startup's latest effort to compete in the consumer internet market against companies like Google and Microsoft. Comet will allow users to connect with enterprise applications like Slack and ask complex questions via voice and text, according to a brief demo video Perplexity released on Wednesday. The browser is available to Perplexity Max subscribers, and the company said invite-only access will roll out to a waitlist over the summer. Perplexity Max costs users $200 per month. "We built Comet to let the internet do what it has been begging to do: to amplify our intelligence," Perplexity wrote in a blog post on Wednesday. In May, Perplexity was in late-stage talks to raise $500 million at a $14 billion valuation, a source familiar confirmed to CNBC. The startup was also approached by Meta earlier this year about a potential acquisition, but the companies did not finalize a deal. "We will continue to launch new features and functionality for Comet, improve experiences based on your feedback, and focus relentlessly-as we always have-on building accurate and trustworthy AI that fuels human curiosity," Perplexity said Wednesday.

OpenAI and Perplexity to challenge Chrome's dominance with new AI browsers

Serving tech enthusiasts for over 25 years. TechSpot means tech analysis and advice you can trust. Something to look forward to: A new wave of artificial intelligence is reshaping how people interact with the web, as OpenAI and Perplexity AI take aim at Google Chrome's long-standing dominance in the browser market. Once defined by incremental updates and speed improvements, the browser landscape is now being redrawn by the promise of AI-powered tools that can understand, assist, and act on behalf of users. According to three people familiar with the matter who spoke to Reuters, OpenAI is preparing to launch its AI-powered web browser in the coming weeks. Built on Chromium, the same open-source foundation used by Chrome and Microsoft Edge, the new browser will integrate AI features directly into the browsing experience. Rather than simply displaying web pages, it aims to keep more user interactions within a ChatGPT-style conversational interface, allowing users to complete tasks such as booking tickets, summarizing content, or filling out forms without leaving the browser window. The move gives OpenAI a direct line to user data, a resource that has long fueled Google's advertising empire. Chrome's ability to track detailed browsing behavior has helped Google maintain dominance in online advertising, with the browser now commanding more than two-thirds of the global market and a user base exceeding 3 billion as of 2025. OpenAI's ambitions come at a time of growing regulatory scrutiny of Google's business practices. The US Department of Justice has called for the divestiture of Chrome following a federal judge's ruling that Google holds an unlawful monopoly in the online search market. While Google has vowed to appeal, the decision has created a rare opening for challengers to make their move. Perplexity AI has already entered the fray. On Wednesday, the company launched Comet, an AI-powered browser that combines real-time search, privacy tools, and an intelligent assistant capable of automating user tasks. Initially available to subscribers of Perplexity's $200-per-month Max plan, Comet will expand to a wider audience via invitation later this summer. Comet allows users to ask questions, compare products, schedule meetings, and conduct research within a unified interface. Its built-in assistant can summarize emails, manage tabs, and even complete purchases, all while storing data locally to appeal to privacy-conscious users. This push by AI challengers comes as Google continues adding AI features to Chrome, including AI-generated summaries and productivity tools. Meanwhile, startups like The Browser Company and Brave are also introducing AI-powered browsers, intensifying competition in a market that has seen little disruption for over a decade. As these new browsers roll out, the stakes are high. If OpenAI's offering catches on with ChatGPT's estimated 500 million weekly active users - or if Comet's agentic approach resonates with professionals and researchers - Google Chrome's long-standing dominance could finally face a real challenge.

The End of the Internet As We Know It

Perplexity's Comet wants to kill the click. OpenAI is poised to follow. Google Chrome might be next on the chopping block. The internet as we know it runs on clicks. Billions of them. They fuel ad revenue, shape search results, and dictate how knowledge is discovered, monetized, and, at times, manipulated. But a new wave of AI powered browsers is trying to kill the click. They're coming for Google Chrome. On Wednesday, the AI search startup Perplexity officially launched Comet, a web browser designed to feel more like a conversation than a scroll. Think of it as ChatGPT with a browser tab, but souped up to handle your tasks, answer complex questions, navigate context shifts, and satisfy your curiosity all at once. Perplexity pitches Comet as your "second brain," capable of actively researching, comparing options, making purchases, briefing you for your day, and analyzing information on your behalf. The promise is that it does all this without ever sending you off on a wild hyperlink chase across 30 tabs, aiming to collapse "complex workflows into fluid conversations." The capabilities of browsers like Comet point to the rapid evolution of agentic AI. This is a cutting-edge field where AI systems are designed not just to answer questions or generate text, but to autonomously perform a series of actions and make decisions to achieve a user's stated goal. Instead of you telling the browser every single step, an agentic browser aims to understand your intent and execute multi-step tasks, effectively acting as an intelligent assistant within the web environment. "Comet learns how you think, in order to think better with you," Perplexity says. Comet's launch throws Perplexity into direct confrontation with the biggest gatekeeper of the internet: Google Chrome. For decades, Chrome has been the dominant gateway, shaping how billions navigate the web. Every query, every click, every ad. It’s all been filtered through a system built to maximize user interaction and, consequently, ad revenue. Comet is trying to blow that model up, fundamentally challenging the advertising-driven internet economy. And it's not alone in this ambitious assault. OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, is reportedly preparing to unveil its own AI powered web browser as early as next week, according to Reuters. This tool will likely integrate the power of ChatGPT with Operator, OpenAI’s proprietary web agent. Launched as a research preview in January 2025, OpenAI's Operator is an AI agent capable of autonomously performing tasks through web browser interactions. It leverages OpenAI's advanced models to navigate websites, fill out forms, place orders, and manage other repetitive browser-based tasks. Operator is designed to "look" at web pages like a human, clicking, typing, and scrolling, aiming to eventually handle the "long tail" of digital use cases. If integrated fully into an OpenAI browser, it could create a full-stack alternative to Google Chrome and Google Search in one decisive move. In essence, OpenAI is coming for Google from both ends: the browser interface and the search functionality. Perplexity’s pitch is simple and provocative: the web should respond to your thoughts, not interrupt them. “The internet has become humanity’s extended mind, while our tools for using it remain primitive,†the company stated in its announcement, advocating for an interface as fluid as human thought itself. Instead of navigating through endless tabs and chasing hyperlinks, Comet promises to run on context. You can ask it to compare insurance plans. You can ask it to summarize a confusing sentence or instantly find that jacket you forgot to bookmark. Comet promises to "collapse entire workflows" into fluid conversations, turning what used to be a dozen clicks into a single, intuitive prompt. If that sounds like the end of traditional Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and the death of the familiar "blue links" of search results, that’s because it very well could be. AI browsers like Comet don’t just threaten individual publishers and their traffic; they directly threaten the very foundation of Google Chrome’s ecosystem and Google Search’s dominance, which relies heavily on directing users to external websites. Google Search has already been under considerable pressure from AI native upstarts like Perplexity and You.com. Its own attempts at deeper AI integration, such as the Search Generative Experience (SGE), have drawn criticism for sometimes producing "hallucinations" (incorrect information) and awkward summaries. Simultaneously, Chrome, Google's dominant browser, is facing its own identity crisis. It's caught between trying to preserve its massive ad revenue pipeline and responding to a wave of AI powered alternatives that don’t rely on traditional links or clicks to deliver useful information. Comet doesn’t just sidestep the old ad driven model, it fundamentally breaks it. There's no need to sort through 10 blue links. No need to open 12 tabs to compare specifications, prices, or user reviews. With Comet, you just ask, and let the browser do the work. OpenAI’s upcoming browser could deepen that transformative shift even further. If it is indeed designed to keep user interactions largely inside a ChatGPT-like interface instead of linking out, it could effectively create an entirely new, self-contained information ecosystem. In such a future, Google Chrome would no longer be the indispensable gateway for knowledge or commerce. If Comet or OpenAI's browser succeed, the impact won't be limited to just disrupting search. They will fundamentally redefine how the entire internet works. Publishers, advertisers, online retailers, and even traditional software companies may find themselves disintermediatedâ€"meaning their direct connection to users is bypassedâ€"by AI agents. These intelligent agents could summarize their content, compare their prices, execute their tasks, and entirely bypass their existing websites and interfaces. It’s a new, high-stakes front in the war for how humans interact with information and conduct their digital lives. The AI browser is no longer a hypothetical concept. It’s here.

Perplexity challenges Chrome by launching a (very expensive) AI web browser

Comet is currently only available to users who subscribe to the Perplexity Max plan. It appears the rise of AI-centered browsers is upon us. Not too long ago, The Browser Company revealed it was moving on from its quirky Arc browser and shifting focus to its AI-powered successor, Dia. As The Browser Company continues to work on Dia, which is currently in beta, AI startup Perplexity is launching its own competing browser. Today, Perplexity announced the rollout of a browser that incorporates its AI assistant and search tools. The company calls its new browser "Comet," which is billed as "A web browser built for today's internet." It should come as no surprise that Comet uses Perplexity as its main search engine, providing AI-generated responses sourced from the web to answer your queries. In the sidebar, you'll also be able to access the AI assistant. This assistant gives the browser agentic capabilities, allowing it to perform tasks like summarizing text, buying a product, scheduling an event, or sending an email. At the moment, Comet is only available on PC and Mac, but the company says there are plans to expand to other platforms. If you want to try it out, you'll need to be a Perplexity Max subscriber, which costs $200 per month. However, availability is expected to expand, but only on an invitation basis.

Perplexity debuts free AI browser that currently costs $200

On Wednesday, Perplexity.ai debuted Comet, its first entry into the browser market that does away with Google and Microsoft's Bing in favor of its own search engine. Comet will be available for both Windows and macOS platforms, the company said. Perplexity has locked Comet behind a, um, perplexing pricing model. Although Comet is technically free, Perplexity has made it accessible for now via a waitlist. If you'd like to download it, you can wait for your turn to arrive or subscribe to Perplexity Max, the company's $200/mo plan that includes access to its latest AI models. What sets Perplexity apart is that the browser doesn't use a traditional third-party search engine. Instead, it relies upon Perplexity's AI engine to provide AI summaries of the answers. It also can perform tasks that other AI engines can do, such as summarizing web pages. The Browser Company of New York has also launched an AI browser called Dia. Our colleagues at TechCrunch took Comet for a spin, and found the browser useful, though it couldn't handle complex tasks. One disconcerting aspect: if you want Comet to be able to help organize your own life, you'll need to give it access to your private information, such as your calendar and email. Comet also employs agentic AI, which sends off various AI couriers to perform tasks independently, then waits for your approval. The problem? In this case, it didn't work. When TechCrunch's Maxwell Zeff asked Comet to seek out and book a parking space for an upcoming trip, things went south. "Turns out, Comet Assistant hallucinated and entered completely wrong dates, later telling me that the dates I wanted were booked, but still wanted to have me complete the check-out anyways," Zeff said. "I had to tell the AI agent that the dates were non-negotiable, and asked it to find another location. It ran into the same problem again."

Perplexity debuts Comet, a free AI browser (that currently costs $200)

On Wednesday, Perplexity.ai debuted Comet, its first entry into the browser market that does away with Google and Microsoft's Bing in favor of its own search engine. Comet will be available for both Windows and macOS platforms, the company said. Perplexity has locked Comet behind a, um, perplexing pricing model. Although Comet is technically free, Perplexity has made it accessible for now via a waitlist. If you'd like to download it, you can wait for your turn to arrive or subscribe to Perplexity Max, the company's $200/mo plan that includes access to its latest AI models. What sets Perplexity apart is that the browser doesn't use a traditional third-party search engine. Instead, it relies upon Perplexity's AI engine to provide AI summaries of the answers. It also can perform tasks that other AI engines can do, such as summarizing web pages. The Browser Company of New York has also launched an AI browser called Dia. Our colleagues at TechCrunch took Comet for a spin, and found the browser useful, though it couldn't handle complex tasks. One disconcerting aspect: if you want Comet to be able to help organize your own life, you'll need to give it access to your private information, such as your calendar and email. Comet also employs agentic AI, which sends off various AI couriers to perform tasks independently, then waits for your approval. The problem? In this case, it didn't work. When TechCrunch's Maxwell Zeff asked Comet to seek out and book a parking space for an upcoming trip, things went south. "Turns out, Comet Assistant hallucinated and entered completely wrong dates, later telling me that the dates I wanted were booked, but still wanted to have me complete the check-out anyways," Zeff said. "I had to tell the AI agent that the dates were non-negotiable, and asked it to find another location. It ran into the same problem again."

Perplexity launches Comet, its AI-based web browser - 9to5Mac

Busy day for AI-based browsing. Just as Reuters reported that OpenIA is just weeks away from releasing a browser, Perplexity, the company behind the famous AI-powered "answer engine," launched Comet, its own take at what browsing looks like in the age of AI. Here's what it looks like. Built on Chromium, Comet obviously uses Perplexity as its default search engine. It comes with a sidebar assistant that can summarize pages, answer questions, and even take actions on the user's behalf (booking hotels, sending emails, or buying products). The goal, according to CEO Aravind Srinivas as reported by The Verge, is to transform "entire browsing sessions into single, seamless interactions." But here's the catch: for now, Comet is only available to the newly released Perplexity Max subscription tier, which costs $200/month. A broader rollout is expected soon, with access granted via a waitlist on Comet's site. Comet arrives as Perplexity continues to eye Google's dominance in search -- an effort that's gained traction through a recent partnership with Motorola, ongoing talks with Samsung, and deals with international carriers to offer Perplexity Pro for free. At the time of the Motorola deal, Srinivas told The Verge that such partnerships likely wouldn't have happened if Google hadn't gone through an antitrust trial, as "they would have bullied a lot of the OEMs." The company has also caught Apple's attention. At Google's antitrust trial, SVP Eddy Cue said that Apple had considered offering Perplexity as an optional search engine in Safari, and a recent Bloomberg report claimed the company has even explored acquiring Perplexity outright. Interestingly, Perplexity has also expressed interest in acquiring Chrome, if regulators end up forcing Google to sell it. In the meantime, Comet offers full support for importing Chrome extensions, bookmarks, and settings in one click. Currently, Comet is available only for macOS and Windows. Perplexity says it will continue expanding Comet's capabilities over time, including more advanced agent-like features that go beyond traditional browsing. Are you interested in AI-assisted browsers? Do you use one already? Let us know in the comments.

Forget Chrome -- this new AI browser is changing how people search the web

Perplexity AI, the fast-rising search startup backed by Jeff Bezos, Nvidia and SoftBank, just launched its first web browser. Dubbed Comet, this AI-powered browser is designed to challenge Google Chrome's dominance, which still commands over 68% of the global browser market. But instead of rehashing what's already out there, Comet aims to completely rethink how we interact with the internet, turning passive searches into real-time conversations. Built on Chromium (just like Chrome and Edge), Comet integrates Perplexity's conversational AI directly into every browsing session. The standout feature is the Comet Assistant, a built-in sidebar that can answer questions about the page you're viewing. Whether you're shopping online and want to compare products, booking a hotel or summarizing a news story, Comet handles it; all without opening a single new tab. That means no more bouncing between sites or copy-pasting search queries. Users can ask or highlight text to get the answers they need. For now, Comet is limited to Perplexity Pro Max subscribers, who pay $200/month, along with a small group of invite-only testers. A broader rollout is expected later this summer, including Mac and Windows desktop support, followed by mobile. We live in an era of growing digital surveillance, which is a concern to users. Comet promises privacy by design. According to Perplexity, no personal data is used to train its AI models, and browsing activity is stored locally. Comet represents a major shift in the way we use browsers. Instead of treating search as a separate step, Perplexity is embedding AI directly into the act of browsing itself. As companies like Google, Microsoft and OpenAI race to develop intelligent assistants and AI-enhanced browsers, Perplexity is carving out a unique lane, betting that users want agents and privacy, not just answers alone. Comet's next moves are worth watching. Desktop support will roll out first for Mac and Windows, with mobile apps expected to follow shortly after. On the content side, Perplexity's future could hinge on how it manages publisher relationships, especially as licensing disputes with major media companies remain unresolved. And as browser wars heat up, the question remains whether Chrome's AI Overviews will be enough to keep users, or if Comet's fully integrated agent model will steal market share.

Perplexity launches its own AI web browser, Comet

Chase joined Mashable's Social Good team in 2020, covering online stories about digital activism, climate justice, accessibility, and media representation. Her work also captures how these conversations manifest in politics, popular culture, and fandom. Sometimes she's very funny. AI-enhanced search answers are just the beginning for the tech industry's plans to revolutionize the way people access information online through even more agentic AI. Announced today, AI-powered search company Perplexity unveiled its new entirely AI-powered search engine, an alternative to traditional styles of web searching. According to Perplexity, the Comet browser reduces the "clutter" of tabs and links in favor of AI-generated responses and a "single, streamlined" interaction with the Comet assistant, which can do both browsing and organizational tasks on your behalf. Rather than mastering boolean operators, users can just ask Comet. "Comet powers a shift from browsing to thinking," the company wrote in a press release. "With Comet, you don't search for information -- you think out loud, and Comet executes complete workflows while keeping perfect context. Research becomes conversation. Analysis becomes natural. Annoying tasks evaporate. The internet becomes an extension of your mind." Perplexity's chatbot-based search engine is built on the open-source project Chromium, which also powers Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Perplexity's chatbot integrates both OpenAI's GPT models and Anthropic's Claude. According to the company, users will still be able to access their preferred extensions, settings, and bookmarks, just as with other browsers. Other major AI players are trying to stack up against the king of search (Google) as well. Industry giant OpenAI is rumored to be launching its own web browser in the coming weeks, according to Reuters, leveling up its current ChatGPT Search extension with the power of a central hub and other AI product integrations. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Perplexity has previously integrated shopping and voice chat features into its product, and looked to expand elsewhere. Apple, reportedly, is considering purchasing the company, potentially to integrate the tech into Apple device's native search tools like Spotlight (which users notoriously deride). Samsung is expected to ship future Galaxy S26 series preloaded with the Perplexity app. Perplexity Max subscribers (the company's $200 per month premium offering) will get access to the Mac and Windows-based Comet first, with a larger rollout expected on an invite-only basis. The company says it will launch a free version of the browser sometime in the future, according the site FAQ. Interested users can also join the waitlist, starting today.

AI web browsers are the new trend, but will ChatGPT and Perplexity Chrome competitors turn out to be a fad?

Though AI companies are betting on their browser's enticing users, their mainstream appeal is uncertain. Perplexity has officially made the move to web browsers, embedding its AI tools into Comet, its new Chromium browser. It's available now, initially only to some subscribers of Perplexity's $200-a-month Max plan. At first glance, Comet is like most browsers, but Comet has a unique sidebar. You can highlight a word, sentence, or image, and Comet will discuss it with you. You can get a summary of an article, write an RSVP, or organize the itinerary of your next vacation. There's also a privacy benefit. Perplexity says all of the AI processing stays local and that it won't train its AI using your site visits. It makes sense. Browsers are central to modern work and life. If AI models can latch onto our browsing flow, then we will be using them all the time. But will it stick? The browser space has seen a lot of failed Chrome clones, from Yahoo Browser to Internet Explorer 6. Chrome and Safari claim over 90% market share globally. The subscription price alone might be the biggest deterrent. Perplexity's Comet is $200 a month. Compared to the price of 'free,' it would take a lot more than an occasional paper summary to make people pay up. And while Comet shows how it might be useful as a way for Perplexity to meld its AI with a web browser, it's hardly alone in pursuing the idea of augmenting web browsers with AI. OpenAI is building a ChatGPT-native Operator browser. Currently, The Browser Company, Opera's Aria, Microsoft's Edge with Copilot, and others are all providing similar services. And Google is continuously adding AI to Chrome, offering quick overviews, summaries, and image explanations. Perplexity, OpenAI, and any other contender face the same challenge of getting people to switch. And while it's possible that Perplexity breaks through to a new group of users with the idea of an AI browser, they will then have to face off against each other as well as the AI-enhanced versions of Chrome, Safari, and the others on the rise from Brave to Firefox, each with their own pitch for a better AI, more privacy, or another appealing feature. Or, maybe the concerns about technical issues and user privacy will keep the AI browser a niche product with limited appeal for hardcore users, a bit like Linux. AI might be the future of browsing, a brief fad, or something in between. The question of what makes it worth the effort will need to be answered. If Comet and others can streamline the online experience and save us a lot of time, they'll be popping up everywhere, but for now, they're novelties priced at a premium. We'll have to see if the AI-enhanced browser can find the users it needs to last.

Perplexity launches Comet, a new AI-powered browser

Perplexity AI, the startup backed by Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and SoftBank, is taking direct aim at Google Chrome with its latest launch: an AI-powered web browser called Comet. Perplexity says Comet isn't just another browser icon in your life. Instead, it's built to replace traditional browsing entirely, with what it calls "agentic AI" that can think, act, and decide for you as you navigate the internet. "Comet is a web browser built for today's internet," the company said in its announcement. "It lets the internet do what it's been begging to do: amplify our intelligence." In practical terms, Comet integrates an AI assistant that can answer questions on any page, summarize articles instantly, compare products across sites, book meetings, send emails, or buy items you forgot to order -- all in a single, conversational interface. Perplexity calls it a shift "from navigation to cognition" that turns browsing into an extension of your thinking process rather than a pile of open tabs. The browser's launch comes as Perplexity seeks to challenge Google Chrome, which dominates with 68% of the global browser market, according to StatCounter. Competitors like Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, and Apple's Safari lag far behind. Comet is currently available to Perplexity Max subscribers, who pay $200 a month, with broader access rolling out via invites over the summer. The company says it will keep adding features, positioning Comet as a pillar of its strategy to grow AI search, advertising, and e-commerce revenue streams. Perplexity says Comet stores data locally and doesn't train its models on personal information, which should add to its appeal for users wary of big tech data collection. The launch of Comet adds fuel to the AI browser wars, following OpenAI's move to integrate search into ChatGPT and Google's rollout of its AI Overviews feature last May.

Two new AI web browsers hope to challenge Google's dominance in search

AI giants OpenAI and Perplexity are launching search browsers powered by AI as Google continues to face anti-competition lawsuits and fines. Two major artificial intelligence (AI) companies are reportedly launching web browsers to rival Google Search's dominance. Perplexity AI announced Wednesday that it launched Comet, an independent search engine for Mac and Windows that bypasses traditional browsers like Google Chrome or Apple's Safari. The search engine is so far only available to people subscribed to Perplexity Max and a small pool of people who received invitations to try out the new platform. In a demonstration of the new search engine, a user searches in Perplexity and asks it to put together a shopping list for two dishes that can be accessed on a grocery website, and then generates a recipe to put it together. Comet will also have an AI assistant that can click, type, submit, and autofill for the user. It will also be able to manage people's emails and calendars and highlight interesting news from their feeds. Meanwhile, not much is known yet about OpenAI's project, but two sources told Reuters that the browser will keep user interactions with AI chatbot ChatGPT instead of clicking through to different websites. The browser's launch is part of OpenAI's strategy to weave services across people's personal and work lives, Reuters reported. Browsers come as Google faces antitrust fines, lawsuits Google's Chrome browser holds 68.4 per cent of the globe's market share for search browsers, according to data from web traffic analysis website StatCounter. The launch of the AI browsers come amid a challenge to Google's power in online search. Last week, the European Court of Justice's advocate general suggested that Google's appeal against a €4.1 billion fine for anti-competitive behaviour be dismissed. Also in the European Union, Reuters reported that a group of independent publishers mounted another antitrust case against Google's AI overviews, alleging that the AI-generated summaries cause significant traffic loss, readership, and revenue loss to publishers. In a 2024 US antitrust trial against Google, a US district judge ruled that the company had illegally monopolised search after it secured agreements from web browsers to be their default search engine so it would receive more advertising dollars than its competitors. Google is also facing antitrust investigations or class action lawsuits in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Japan.

Perplexity introduces Comet browser with AI-powered automation tools - SiliconANGLE

Perplexity introduces Comet browser with AI-powered automation tools Perplexity AI Inc. today introduced a browser called Comet that uses artificial intelligence to automate manual tasks for users. Comet is based on Chromium, the open-source software engine that underpins Chrome. That means Perplexity's browser supports Chrome extensions and allows users to bring over their bookmarks. Another benefit of Chromium is that it's widely supported by websites, which avoids compatibility-related technical issues. Comet extends Chromium with a set of Perplexity-powered AI features. The company's namesake search engine is set as the default option for users. Additionally, a sidebar provides access to an AI assistant that can automate a wide range of browser actions. Online shopping is one of the tasks that Perplexity promises to speed up. According to the company, Comet's embedded AI assistant can help users compare products and e-commerce platforms. The browser could, for example, find the online store that offers the fastest shipping or most favorable return policy. Perplexity also promises to streamline online research. When users launch Comet's AI assistant, it gains access to the information in open tabs. That removes the need to manually copy the text necessary for a query and paste it into the sidebar. It's unclear which large language models power Comet. To minimize inference costs, Perplexity might be relegating queries that don't require a reasoning model to more affordable, lightweight LLMs. Comet is available as part of Perplexity Max, a $200 monthly subscription that the company launched last week. The plan includes a version of Perplexity's search engine that uses reasoning models to answer queries. There's also a feature called Labs that automates tasks such as generating data visualizations. In addition to Perplexity Max subscribers, Comet will become available to users who had signed up for a waitlist ahead of today's launch. Perplexity will roll out the browser to those users "over the summer." It's unclear when Comet will become generally available. Currently, the browser can run on Windows and macOS. Perplexity's website states that it plans to add support for more operating systems in the coming months. That hints that the company may be working on mobile versions of Comet. Another way Perplexity could expand the browser's reach is by launching a business version. Enterprise browsers typically offer tools that allow administrators to centrally manage configuration settings, monitor usage and block cybersecurity risks. Some products in the category also include a cloud-based sandbox for safely opening webpages. The introduction of Comet follows reports that Perplexity is in talks to raise funding at a $14 billion valuation. That number may go up if the browser's early adoption rates prove encouraging. At the same time, the browser may make Apple Inc. less likely to sign the partnership that it's reportedly considering to ink with Perplexity. Comet competes with Safari in certain respects. Last month, Bloomberg reported that Apple has also weighed the possibility of buying Perplexity.

Perplexity AI's Comet Brings Vibe Browsing, Makes Google Chrome Outdated | AIM

Comet, currently available by invite to Perplexity's $200‑a‑month Max subscribers, is built on Chromium and supports Windows and Mac platforms. The AI browsing war is heating up with Perplexity AI launching Comet. The highly anticipated AI-powered browser is the company's bold attempt to challenge Google Chrome's dominance. Meanwhile, OpenAI is reportedly preparing to launch its own AI browser within weeks, further intensifying the competition. Comet, currently available by invite to Perplexity's $200‑a‑month Max subscribers, is built on Chromium and supports Windows and Mac platforms. The browser features Perplexity as its default search engine and allows users to easily import Chrome extensions, bookmarks, and settings, making the migration process painless. Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas revealed in a post on X that he had reached out to Chrome a long time ago to offer Perplexity as a default search engine option. "They refused. Hence, we decided to build the Perplexity Comet browser," he said. Not to forget that Apple and Meta are already trying to acquire Perplexity AI. Aman Kabeer, investor at FirstMark, described Comet as "a masterpiece of a release." He pointed out that switching browsers is usually a hassle, but Comet makes it effortless with its one-click import from Chrome. He expressed that ease of migration is crucial for consumers. In an X post, he mentioned that using other browsers feels uncomfortable from the start and requires too much effort to switch. A standout feature of Comet is its Assistant. This AI sidebar can answer questions about what you're seeing on screen, instantly summarise articles, compare products, book meetings, send emails, and even purchase items on behalf of users. The assistant operates across any webpage, interpreting content contextually and allowing users to automate multi‑step workflows through a conversational interface, shifting browsing from navigation to cognition. From a privacy standpoint, Perplexity AI stated that Comet stores user data locally and does not feed personal information into its model-training pipeline, a move aimed at privacy-conscious users. Additionally, Comet comes with a built‑in ad blocker for a cleaner browsing experience, and supports personalised search by analysing local browsing history, all without sending data to Perplexity servers. Citing Greyhound Research, Sanchit Vir Gogoi, CEO of Greyhound Research, told AIM that AI-first browsers like Perplexity Comet and OpenAI's forthcoming offering may not displace Chrome immediately. Still, they are reorienting user expectations around relevance, speed, and task fluidity. "Chrome's grip is rooted in legacy distribution and cross-device familiarity, but its tab-centric model is increasingly at odds with users seeking AI-native assistance," he said. Gogoi added that 51% of enterprise technology leaders believe OpenAI and Perplexity are moving into browser development to secure first-party data access, lock-in user feedback loops, and control the digital front door. Dharmesh Shah, Co-founder and CTO of HubSpot, shared his experience with Comet after getting early access. "I feel like I'm living in the future right now." "I spend hours and hours a day in a browser -- specifically, Chrome," he said, adding that while Chrome Extensions were a significant advancement, they came over 15 years ago and little has felt "remarkable" since. In contrast, Shah called Comet "a breath of fresh air." He compared it to having an AI assistant embedded directly into the browser, one that's context-aware and capable of acting on whatever you're doing. Because Comet is a fully functional browser rather than just a plug-in, the assistant can perform tasks across any tab, including on sites where the user is logged in. "It can pretty much do anything that you could do inside the browser," he said. Notably, Shah is a small investor in Perplexity and is acquainted with Srinivas. Meanwhile, Srinivas also took a dig at MCP (Model Context Protocol), saying that one could either wait for connectors and MCP servers to bring in context from third-party apps, or simply download and use Comet, letting the agent handle browsing tabs and pulling relevant information. "It's a much cleaner way to make agents work," he said. Matthew Berman, CEO of Forward Future, described the experience of using Comet as 'vibe browsing,' saying that "users will be a step removed from interacting with websites directly and instead will be tasking agents to interact on our behalf." "Comet is impressive. Great work, Aravind Srinivas," said YC CEO Garry Tan in a post on X. Meanwhile, OpenAI is reportedly just weeks away from launching its own AI browser, also built on Chromium, in a move that could challenge Google Chrome's dominance. As of 2025, Chrome remains the world's most widely used browser, with an estimated 3.45 billion users, up 4.5% from the previous year, and holds around 68% of the global market share across all platforms. "The browser is slated to launch in the coming weeks and aims to use artificial intelligence to fundamentally change how consumers browse the web," according to Reuters. Last year, OpenAI brought on board two veteran Google vice presidents who had been part of Chrome's original development team. By integrating its AI agent, Operator, OpenAI's browser could keep user interactions within a chat-like interface, reducing reliance on traditional website navigation and potentially capturing valuable user data. According to Gogoi, the decisive factor in the AI browser market will not be page speed or privacy optics alone, but how effectively the assistant learns and adapts. "Persistent memory, safe personalisation, and cross-app intelligence are emerging as deal-breakers," he said. He further added that Perplexity's local-first model and OpenAI's cloud-integrated approach offer contrasting views on where that balance lies. With over 500 million weekly ChatGPT users and 3 million business subscribers, OpenAI's browser could pose a formidable challenge to Chrome's global two‑thirds market share.

Meet Comet: Perplexity's ambitious new AI-powered browser

Perplexity launched Comet, its first AI-powered web browser, on Wednesday, aiming to challenge Google Search's dominance in online information retrieval. Comet is initially available to subscribers of Perplexity's Max plan, priced at $200 per month, and a select group of invitees from a waitlist. The browser integrates Perplexity's AI search engine as its default, prioritizing AI-generated summaries of search results. This places the company's core product prominently within the user experience. A central feature of Comet is "Comet Assistant," an AI agent designed to automate routine tasks within the browser. This assistant can summarize emails and calendar events, manage tabs, and navigate web pages. Users access Comet Assistant via a sidecar that appears on any web page, allowing the AI agent to interpret page content and answer related questions. This design enables real-time contextual interaction. Perplexity has introduced multiple initiatives recently, but Comet represents a significant strategic move. Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, has emphasized Comet's importance, signaling its role in the company's competitive strategy against Google. Perplexity aims to directly reach users with Comet, circumventing Google Chrome, currently the most widely used browser. Google itself has incorporated AI integrations into Chrome and developed "AI mode," an AI search product with functional similarities to Perplexity's offerings, indicating a broader industry trend toward AI-enhanced browsers. Gemini will reportedly see your Google search history Srinivas stated in March that a primary goal for Comet was to "develop an operating system with which you can do almost everything," intending for Perplexity's AI to assist users across various applications and websites. He further noted in June that becoming the default browser could lead to "infinite retention," potentially increasing query volume on Perplexity's platform. The browser market is competitive. While Google Chrome and Apple's Safari hold significant market share, The Browser Company launched Dia, an AI-powered browser with features similar to Comet, in June. OpenAI has also reportedly considered developing its own browser and has recruited former members of the Google Chrome team within the last year, indicating expansion into this sector. Comet could gain an initial advantage if a substantial portion of Perplexity's existing user base adopts the product. Srinivas recently reported that Perplexity processed 780 million queries in May 2025, and its search products are experiencing over 20% month-over-month growth. While challenging Google Search is a formidable undertaking, launching a proprietary browser constitutes a direct competitive approach. However, convincing users to switch browsers may prove more difficult than shifting them away from Google Search.

Perplexity's New Web Browser Could Be Your Next Personal Assistant. Here's How

Yesterday, Perplexity, the fast-growing AI platform, soft-launched Comet, a new web browser meant to compete with Google Chrome and Safari. In many ways, Perplexity Comet functions similarly to other browsers; you can search the web, open tabs, and create bookmarks. What makes Comet different is its Assistant button, which when clicked, pulls up a chatbot. This chatbot has two big features: It can analyze and answer questions about the contents of your browser, and it can open up its own sub-browsers in which AI agents can actually take actions, like adding items to a cart or composing a tweet. In a video shared by Perplexity, a user navigates to a Reddit AMA with Keanu Reeves. The user presses the Assistant button, asks the chatbot to summarize the answers, and the chatbot quickly writes out a brief summary of Keanu's answers. Perplexity also showed how users can ask Comet to shop online for them, parse through browser-based email clients, and make travel plans by launching multiple agents simultaneously. Comet also includes a method for searching the web with your voice. In the video, a user selects the voice mode and asks Comet to "pull up the clip of Jensen demoing Perplexity Labs." Not only does Comet pull up a video of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang presenting a keynote at a tech conference in Paris, but skips to the moment in the video where Huang demos a Perplexity feature.

Perplexity Finally Launches Comet, Its AI-Native Web Browser

Those who do not have Perplexity Max, can join a waitlist for the browser Perplexity launched its in-house web browser Comet on Wednesday. The artificial intelligence (AI) browser is powered by the company's native search engine and various AI features. The browser's most prominent feature is a sidebar assistant that can derive information from all opened tabs to answer user queries, summarise pages, and even perform certain actions on their behalf. The Comet browser is currently only available to the Perplexity Max subscribers, but the AI firm has also opened a waitlist to eventually expand the feature to other users as well. In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), the official handle of Perplexity announced the release of the Comet browser. The company shared a short video highlighting the capabilities and features of the AI-powered web browser. At launch, it will only be available to Perplexity's $200 (roughly Rs. 17,100) a month, Max subscribers. Those who do not have the subscription can join the waitlist here. The company said that this invite-only access will be rolled out to users registered to the waitlist over the summar. Additionally, Perplexity will also share a limited number of invites with new users as well. Notably, Comet is built on Chromium and is currently only available on Windows and Mac operating systems. On Comet, users will be able to access the same search engine that powers the Perplexity platform. That means when searching for topics, users will find answers in a similar layout. Additionally, the company as also added an AI-powered sidebar assistant that can assist users across multiple tabs and projects. For instance, users can go to an e-commerce platform's product page and ask the chatbot to find a website that ships the same product faster. The assistant also comes with agentic capabilities. Perplexity says Comet can book a meeting, send an email based on something a user found during the browsing session, or buy something, and it will be able to do so. While the company did not confirm it, it is believed that the browser will also natively offer all of Perplexity's features, including Deep Research and Pro mode. Notably, the AI-powered web browser space has started to become more competitive. Last month, The Browser Company released Dia, which comes with a similar sidebar assistant. Another report claims that OpenAI is also working on an AI web browser that can debut in the next few weeks.

Nvidia-backed Perplexity's Comet will it change the way you browse the internet: How is it different from Chrome?

The AI arms race is at an all-time high as the companies are now entering the web browser market to change how people explore the internet. Two significant players in the AI market-- Perplexity AI and OpenAI --- are launching their own browsers to take on traditional giants like Google Chrome. Backed by AI giant Nvidia, Perplexity has already launched launched a new browser called Comet while OpenAI has announced plans to launch its own AI browser soon. Just two months before Google Chrome's anniversary celebration, Perplexity dropped what could be a defining moment for web browsers and might definitely make Chrome re-think how it serves the internet to its billions of users. Perplexity AI has recently announced the launch of Comet, its new AI-powered web browser. Comet has been designed to replace conventional browsing methods through agentic AI that can think, act, and make decisions on behalf of users. ALSO READ: Why Meta's Mark Zuckerberg is offering jobs worth $100 million to poach AI talent from Apple, OpenAI According to TechTarget, Perplexity differentiates itself from other AI search and chatbot tools by citing sources for its answers, which helps users verify the accuracy of the AI-generated output. Other capabilities include the ability to ask follow-up questions, multimodality, file uploads, news discovery, query management and project collaboration. Perplexity offers Standard, Pro and Enterprise Pro plans. Perplexity is widely used for tasks like research, summarization, content creation, language translation, and data analysis, making it valuable across various industries. However, it also shares common generative AI drawbacks, including potential bias, hallucinated outputs, and legal risks. Comet, a new web browser designed by Perplexity, has been designed to support those users who depend heavily on internet for work, research and daily tasks, according to a report in Fortune. While traditional browsers focus on tabs and passive navigation, Comet positions itself as an active partner, helping users ask questions, organise information, and automate tasks. ALSO READ: 'Why date an unattractive Indian-American': Kash Patel's girlfriend smeared into Jeffrey Epstein conspiracy The key feature is that Comet integrates Perplexity's AI assistant directly into the browsing experience- meaning it allows users to interact with webpages more dynamically. It asks for summaries, comparisons, translations, or follow-up actions without needing to switch tabs or apps. The idea is to reduce the friction involved in jumping between tools or trying to keep track of scattered information. "We believe curiosity is a superpower. It's the spark that propels humanity forward. Yet, the web -- our greatest source of information -- was never designed to nurture curiosity; instead, we've been asked to "browse" it through a one-way lens. That's why we made Comet," Perplexity wrote in a blog post. Perplexity is a chatbot-powered web search tool designed to understand user queries, browse the internet, analyze uploaded content, and generate relevant responses. It delivers answers through a range of large language models (LLMs), including both proprietary and third-party systems. This LLM-driven framework gives users a conversational experience, thanks to the models' strong natural language processing (NLP) abilities. ALSO READ: After Texas, flood warning in North Carolina after severe rainfall from Chantal's remnants. Check latest update The default model powering Perplexity's standard search is Sonar, a customized version of Meta's Llama 3 developed in-house. For more advanced or multimodal searches, Perplexity also provides access to other cutting-edge LLMs, including: OpenAI's GPT-4o and o3-mini Anthropic's Claude 3.5 Sonnet Perplexity's own Sonar Large, which supports real-time advanced search DeepSeek's R1 Comet offers a workspace information is organised and easily accessible for later retrieval- in contrast with Chrome where multiple tabs accumulate that clutter the experience. Comet tracks what a user is working on, surfaces related content, and keeps everything tied to a consistent context. For instance, if you're researching a topic, Comet can group relevant pages, recall past activity, and let you seamlessly pick up where you left off. It also automates routine tasks -- summarizing emails, managing calendars, and reviewing meeting notes. Comet can also close inactive tabs, thus aiming to reduce information workload. It relevant news, and even remind users of action items from earlier sessions and is built in a way that you can handle your everyday workflows. From checking calendars, summarising videos, and reviewing LinkedIn messages -- without requiring manual tab switching or app hopping, Comet helps in all. ALSO READ: Big blow to Trump as Supreme Court declines to let Florida enforce its controversial immigration law At its core, Comet is powered by Perplexity's search engine, which emphasizes accuracy and verifiable results. This makes it especially useful for users making informed decisions -- whether researching investments, comparing insurance plans, or exploring new technologies. Notably, Perplexity isn't targeting casual users but rather those who engage in deep research. Its recent spotlight for offering detailed financial analysis to investors signals a strategic departure from Google's mass-market approach. While this might slow widespread adoption, it could pave the way for a highly loyal user base.

Google killer? Perplexity's Comet browser is blowing minds - features, free tools and why it might replace Chrome

Perplexity, an AI startup, has introduced Comet, an AI-powered web browser designed to amplify user intelligence. Comet allows users to ask complex questions via voice or text, connect with enterprise applications, and execute complete workflows. Currently, Comet will be available to Perplexity Max subscribers with invite-only access rolling out later. Is Chrome's dominance over? There's a new player in the field, and it's not Microsoft or Google. On Wednesday, artificial intelligence startup Perplexity introduced Comet, a new web browser powered by artificial intelligence, as per a report. Perplexity's new web browser, Comet, is built in a way that it will let users connect with enterprise applications like Slack and ask complex questions via voice and text, CNBC reported, citing a brief demo video Perplexity released on Wednesday. The AI startup wrote in a blog post that, "We built Comet to let the internet do what it has been begging to do: to amplify our intelligence," as per the blog. Perplexity described the new web browser: "The Comet assistant removes friction with every thought, actively conducting entire browsing sessions while you focus on what matters. Ask Comet which other sites have the same bike but ship it faster. Ask Comet to compare what you're reading to something you already read," according to the company's blog post. ALSO READ: Delta shares take off as tax cuts, trade deals clear the runway for massive gains The firm emphasised that "Comet allows you to ask questions anywhere they occur to you, whether you want to understand a complex concept, find hidden connections, create new possibilities, or solve problems that have been puzzling you," as written in its blog. The company also claims that, "With Comet, you don't search for information -- you think out loud, and Comet executes complete workflows while keeping perfect context. Research becomes conversation. Analysis becomes natural. Annoying tasks evaporate. The internet becomes an extension of your mind," as per the blog post. According to CNBC, the new browser will be available to Perplexity Max subscribers starting on Thursday, with invite-only access rolling out to a waitlist over the summer. The company also shared that new users will also receive a limited number of invites to share, as per the blog post. Currently, Perplexity Max is priced for users at $200 per month, reported CNBC. ALSO READ: AWS just crushed Vertiv? Stock tanks over 6% after Amazon's bold cooling move The company is popularly known for its AI-powered search engine that gives users simple answers to questions and links out to the original source material on the web, according to the CNBC report. After Perplexity was accused of plagiarising content from media outlets, it even launched a revenue-sharing model with publishers last year, as per the report. Perplexity was also in late-stage talks to raise $500 million at a $14 billion valuation in May, while the AI startup was also approached by Meta previously this year about a potential acquisition, but the companies did not finalise a deal, as reported by CNBC. ALSO READ: This AI rocket stock just posted 400% growth, and it's powered by Nvidia's engine What is Comet? Comet is an AI-powered web browser created by Perplexity that lets you search, research, and work online using natural language -- via voice or text, as per the CNBC report. How is Comet different from Chrome? Instead of just browsing or searching, Comet lets you ask complex questions, runs full tasks, and remembers context -- kind of like chatting with a helpful assistant, as per the company's blog post.

Perplexity's Comet AI Browser Launches with a Built-in AI Agent

The Comet browser brings an AI agent that can perform routine tasks for you in the browser. Perplexity has finally launched its Comet AI browser, and it's rolling out first to those who have subscribed to Perplexity's Max plan, which costs $200 per month. Other users can join the waitlist for now to access the Comet AI browser. The browser comes with Perplexity as the default search engine, and you can get AI-generated summaries of search results. There is also an AI agent embedded in the browser called Comet Assistant. It can see the content of your tabs as you browse the web, and can summarize the current webpage, find emails, manage tabs, and more. You can access the AI agent in Comet through the side panel. What is new and interesting is that the AI agent in the Comet browser can perform routine tasks for you, just like OpenAI's Operator AI agent. It can open websites, enter your details, and make a booking as well, on your behalf. Other than that, the AI agent in the Comet browser can scan through your emails to find the important ones and notify you about your Calendar events, among other things. While The Browser Company's Dia is also trying to offer an AI-first web browsing experience, it doesn't have an action-oriented AI agent yet. Perplexity's Comet browser is available for macOS and Windows users. You can download it or sign up for the waitlist from comet.perplexity.ai.

Google Rejected Perplexity's Request To Become A Default Search Engine Option On Chrome: AI Startup Fires Back With 'Comet' Browser - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Amazon.com (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Perplexity AI launched its Comet web browser on Wednesday, following Alphabet Inc.'s GOOGL GOOG Google Chrome's rejection of the startup's offer to become a default search engine option, according to CEO Aravind Srinivas. What Happened: "I reached out to Chrome to offer Perplexity as a default search engine option a long time ago. They refused. Hence we decided to build Perplexity Comet browser," Srinivas wrote on X Wednesday. The move escalates competition in the browser market, where Google Chrome maintains a dominant market share. Perplexity's entry comes as the San Francisco-based company, backed by Nvidia Corp. NVDA, carries a $14 billion valuation from its latest funding round, up from $9 billion in November. Comet positions itself as an artificial intelligence-powered browser that transforms browsing into "thinking," according to Perplexity's announcement. The browser integrates conversational AI capabilities, allowing users to ask questions directly without traditional search navigation. The company describes the shift as moving "from navigation to cognition." See Also: Elon Musk Is The 'Most Productive Human Being On Earth,' Says Ark Invest's Cathie Wood: 'Facts Are Facts' Why It Matters: The browser launch follows mounting speculation about potential acquisition targets for Apple Inc. AAPL. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives called a Perplexity acquisition "a no-brainer" for Apple, citing the tech giant's need to strengthen its AI capabilities amid criticism of Siri and delayed Apple Intelligence features. Perplexity's search engine provides inline citations and sources, differentiating it from traditional search results. The startup's revenue continues growing, with CEO Srinivas stating "no plans of IPOing before 2028" during a Reddit discussion addressing financial stability concerns. Major investors include Amazon.com Inc. AMZN founder Jeff Bezos and SoftBank Group Corp. Comet launches initially for Perplexity Max subscribers, with invite-only access rolling out through summer. The browser represents Perplexity's boldest challenge to Google's web ecosystem as AI search competition intensifies across the technology sector. Read Next: Mark Zuckerberg Once Revealed That Getting Into Harvard Made His Mom And Dad Prouder Than Building Facebook -- Spills The Beans On Why No One Talked To Him At His First Class Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo courtesy: Shutterstock AAPLApple Inc$210.720.34%Stock Score Locked: Want to See it? Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Reveal Full ScoreEdge RankingsMomentum25.04Growth32.12Quality74.20Value9.33Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewAMZNAmazon.com Inc$222.301.34%GOOGAlphabet Inc$177.451.31%GOOGLAlphabet Inc$176.441.19%NVDANVIDIA Corp$163.362.10%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Perplexity AI Browser Comet Review : Say Goodbye to Tedious Online Tasks

Have you ever wished your browser could do more than just open tabs and load pages? Imagine a tool that not only helps you navigate the web but also takes care of the tedious, repetitive tasks that eat away at your time -- like summarizing articles, organizing your calendar, or even managing your grocery lists. Bold claim? Perhaps. But the Perplexity AI Comet browser is here to challenge the limits of what a browser can do. By merging the familiar interface of Google Chrome with innovative AI-driven automation, Comet promises to redefine productivity and transform how we interact with the digital world. But does it live up to the hype, or is it just another tech buzzword in disguise? In this detailed rundown by Matthew Berman, explore what makes the Comet browser stand out -- and where it still stumbles. From its seamless transition for Chrome users to its innovative AI agents that handle everything from social media interactions to task scheduling, Comet offers a glimpse into the future of AI-first browsing. But no tool is without its flaws, and Comet's limitations, such as occasional task inconsistencies and transparency concerns, are worth examining. Whether you're a productivity enthusiast or simply curious about how AI can enhance your online experience, this review will help you decide if Comet is the browser you've been waiting for -- or if it's still a work in progress. Sometimes, the tools that promise to save us time are the ones that make us rethink how we spend it. Switching to the Comet browser is designed to be a hassle-free process. As a fork of Google Chrome, it allows you to import your existing settings, bookmarks, and extensions with ease. This eliminates the need for time-consuming reconfigurations or re-authentication of frequently used tools and websites. By minimizing setup friction, Comet ensures that you can start using it immediately while retaining the intuitive interface you're already accustomed to. This seamless transition makes it an attractive option for users seeking to enhance their browsing experience without sacrificing familiarity. Performance is a critical factor in any browser, and Comet delivers noticeable improvements in speed and responsiveness. Web pages load faster compared to Chrome, providing a smoother browsing experience, especially when managing multiple tabs or handling resource-intensive tasks. This optimization is particularly beneficial for professionals who rely on uninterrupted workflows. By reducing lag and delays, Comet allows you to focus on your work without the distractions caused by slow-loading pages or system inefficiencies. Below are more guides on AI-first web browser from our extensive range of articles. At the core of the Comet browser lies its AI integration, which is designed to autonomously perform a wide range of tasks. These AI agents can handle activities such as summarizing lengthy articles, managing LinkedIn requests, automating grocery cart creation, and interacting with tools like Google Calendar. Unlike many cloud-based AI solutions, Comet emphasizes local execution, using your device's resources to enhance efficiency. This approach not only reduces reliance on external servers but also prioritizes user privacy, making sure that sensitive data remains secure and under your control. The Comet browser's AI capabilities excel in automating everyday tasks, saving users significant time and effort. Here are some real-world examples of how these features can be applied: By delegating routine and repetitive tasks to AI agents, users can focus on more strategic and creative aspects of their work, enhancing overall productivity. While the Comet browser offers innovative features, it is not without its challenges. Some of the key limitations include: These challenges highlight the need for ongoing refinement to improve the browser's reliability and user experience. Addressing these issues will be crucial for building trust and making sure that users can fully benefit from the browser's capabilities. The Comet browser represents a significant step toward a future where AI agents play a central role in managing online tasks. Its vision includes allowing parallel task execution, allowing multiple activities to occur simultaneously, which could dramatically boost efficiency. Additionally, the browser's ability to filter out irrelevant information through AI agents addresses the growing challenge of information overload, helping users focus on what truly matters. This shift toward agent-mediated browsing has the potential to redefine how individuals interact with the digital world, making online experiences more streamlined and purposeful. For AI-driven tools like Comet to gain widespread adoption, transparency and user control must remain a top priority. Providing step-by-step logs or screenshots of AI actions would enhance accountability and foster user confidence. Addressing unexpected behaviors, such as automated text additions in social media posts, is also critical to making sure that users maintain control over AI-driven processes. By prioritizing these aspects, Comet can establish itself as a trusted tool for managing digital workflows. The Perplexity AI Comet browser sets a new standard for productivity by integrating AI-driven automation into the browsing experience. Its combination of a seamless setup process, faster performance, and practical AI applications makes it a compelling choice for users seeking to optimize their workflows. However, to fully realize its potential, challenges such as task execution reliability and transparency must be addressed. As AI technology continues to evolve, tools like Comet are poised to become indispensable for navigating the complexities of the digital world, offering a glimpse into the future of intelligent, agent-mediated browsing.

Perplexity Takes on Google With AI-Powered Browser Comet | PYMNTS.com

"Comet transforms entire browsing sessions into single, seamless interactions, collapsing complex workflows into fluid conversations," the company wrote on its blog Wednesday (July 9). According to the post, the browser lets users answer questions, and carry out tasks and research from a single interface. "Tabs that piled up waiting for your return now join one intelligent interface that understands how your mind works," the company added. "Context-switching between dozens of applications, sites, and interfaces has stolen the focus and flow that bring joy to our work and fuel our curiosity." The browser also features an assistant that can conduct browsing sessions while users work, and can do things like compare what a user is reading to something they've already read, or help with more practical matters like comparing insurance plans or deciding on investments. Beginning Wednesday, Comet is available to Perplexity Max subscribers, with plans to roll out invite-only access throughout the summer. Perplexity Max is the company's $200-a-month or $2,000-a-year subscription tier, introduced last week. These products are rolling at a time when Perplexity is seeing double-digit query growth. CEO Aravind Srinivas said last month that the AI startup was handling 780 million queries each month in May, with that figure growing over 20% month over month. Srinivas said Perplexity expects to keep growing at that pace, with gains driven by the browser and consumers' weariness with "legacy browsers" such as Google's Chrome. PYMNTS looked at some of the challenges facing Google in a report last month, after Bank of America Global Research hosted a bulls and bears debate with more than 200 investors to explore Google's prospects. "Overall sentiment on the stock was mixed with concerns ranging from share loss and monetization challenges to Apple's reaction to the DOJ trial outcome, but we found that there is a strong share of bulls on the stock," according to a research report shared with PYMNTS. The bears argued that users are spending more time with AI rivals such as ChatGPT, which could reduce how often people use Google and lead to fewer clicks on Google search results. The bulls' case included the fact that Google has superior first-person data thanks to things like Gmail, Maps, Android and others, giving it an edge as foundation AI models commoditize, becoming similar to each other.

Perplexity And OpenAI's Browsers To Challenge Google Chrome?

Perplexity has launched its own AI-powered web browser, Comet, which the company says is designed to change how users search, browse, and perform tasks online. Meanwhile, OpenAI also prepares to unveil its own browser in the coming weeks, according to Reuters. These moves signal a serious challenge to the dominance of traditional players like Google, particularly at a time when the tech giant faces mounting legal and regulatory pressure over its control of the browser and search markets. Perplexity's new browser, Comet, is currently available to users subscribed to its $200-a-month Max plan and a few people from its waitlist. The company says Comet will allow users to search, browse, and perform tasks using AI, all without going through Google Chrome. The goal is to offer a direct, AI-driven browsing experience and become a tool users rely on daily. OpenAI's browser, which is yet to be officially launched, is expected to work in a similar way. According to Reuters, the browser will combine regular web browsing with a ChatGPT-like interface. Users might be able to ask questions or give commands directly to the browser, which will then perform actions, like filling forms or booking reservations without requiring them to visit multiple websites. OpenAI is reportedly building its browser on Chromium, the same open-source code that powers Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Perplexity's Comet and OpenAI's upcoming browser are entering a highly competitive browser market that is still ruled by a few major players. According to StatCounter, as of June 2025: This dominance means that any new browser, even one powered by advanced AI, will have a tough time convincing users to switch. Despite this, several startups have entered the space recently with AI-powered features. In June, a US-based software development company called The Browser Company launched "Dia", an AI-focused browser that lets an AI bot search the web for you, and offers smart summarisation of files. The above-mentioned Brave browser, has also added an 'Answer with AI' feature that produces answers to search queries from a web index of more than 20 billion pages. As such, these smaller players are trying to tap into a growing interest in browsers that can do more than just load web pages. Elsewhere, Google is clearly responding to this AI wave in the domain of web browsers. It has integrated its Gemini AI chatbot directly within Chrome. Furthermore, the company's "AI Mode" within Google Search is now rolling out in India. However, Google's ability to leverage the Chrome browser for competitive advantage is under scrutiny. In a landmark August 2024 ruling, a US District Court found Google guilty of maintaining an illegal monopoly in search and search advertising. Following this, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended a breakup of Google's operations, including the divestment of Chrome itself. During subsequent court proceedings in April 2025, both OpenAI and Perplexity expressed interest in acquiring Chrome from Google. OpenAI executives testified that such a move would allow them to scale AI-powered browsing experiences more efficiently and compete on a level playing field, free from Google's deep integration with Android and pre-installed defaults on devices. For more than 10 years, browsers like Chrome, Safari and Microsoft Edge have decided how most people use the internet. They became popular not just because they work well, but because they come pre-installed on devices and people are used to them. And once users get comfortable with something, they rarely feel the need to change it. But now, AI-powered browsers are trying to offer something completely different, not just faster page loading, but tools that help you do things in a smarter manner. These new browsers want to turn web browsing into an experience where you can ask questions, get summaries, and even complete tasks with the help of AI. Still, many big questions remain: Traditional browsers have dominated the digital landscape for years, shaping how billions interact with the web. But the rise of AI-powered browsers from Perplexity's Comet to OpenAI's upcoming tool, signals that change is on the horizon. What was once a stable, near-monopolised market is now in flux, driven by rapid advances in AI and growing user appetite for smarter tools. With regulators challenging Google's dominance and AI firms racing to define the next-generation web experience, the browser market may be entering its most transformative era yet, one not just shaped by speed and market share, but by autonomy, utility, and user trust.

Nvidia-backed Perplexity launches AI-powered browser to take on Google Chrome

(Reuters) -Nvidia-backed Perplexity AI said on Wednesday it has launched Comet, a new web browser with AI-powered search capabilities, as the startup looks to challenge the dominance of market leader Alphabet's Google Chrome. The launch marks Perplexity AI's entry into the competitive browser market, aiming to replace traditional navigation with agentic AI that can think, act, and decide on behalf of users. Google Chrome held a commanding 68% share of the global browser market in June, according to StatCounter, cementing its position as the world's most widely used browser--far ahead of Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox. Comet enables users to ask questions, perform tasks, and conduct research in a single, unified interface. The browser integrates a built-in assistant that can compare products, summarize content, book meetings, and transform complex workflows into simple, conversational experiences. Comet is currently available to subscribers who pay $200 per month for Perplexity Max, with broader access rolling out via invite over the summer. Backed by high-profile investors like Jeff Bezos, SoftBank, and Nvidia, Perplexity is leveraging the launch of Comet to directly challenge incumbents such as Google's Chrome and Microsoft's Edge, while also exploring new revenue streams in advertising and e-commerce. Last year, OpenAI added a search engine to ChatGPT and recently made the service available to all of its users. Google also introduced an AI-powered search feature, called AI Overviews, last May. Comet stores data locally and avoids model training on personal information--a move likely to appeal to privacy-conscious users. However, the company has come under criticism from media organizations such as News Corp-owned outlets, Forbes and Wired, and Wall Street Journal parent Dow Jones for using their content without consent or compensation. Perplexity has responded by launching a publisher partnership program to collaborate with news outlets. (Reporting by Akash Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)

Perplexity AI launches Comet browser to take on Google Chrome: Here's how it is different

Currently available to $200/month Perplexity Max users via invite on desktop; mobile versions are expected later this year. Perplexity AI, the startup backed by Nvidia and Jeff Bezos, has officially launched its own web browser, Comet, to take on Google Chrome. It is said to transform how users search, read, and interact with web content. Built on Chromium, Comet is fully compatible with Chrome extensions and user bookmarks. However, its integration of Perplexity's conversational AI will make it different from other browsers. The built-in assistant will understand and respond to users' queries on any webpage. Users can ask questions such as "summarise this article" or request comparisons, meeting bookings, and more, all without switching tabs or copying text. Additionally, the Perplexity AI assistant is said to maintain context across sessions, remember prior searches, and assist with a range of tasks from shopping to scheduling. Perplexity's goal is to shift the web browsing experience from passive to intelligent and interactive. The browser also automates functions such as tab cleanup, translation, and email composition. Privacy has been positioned as a key feature. Perplexity says all browsing data is stored locally and not used to train its AI models. The browser also features an ad blocker and offers users various privacy modes. Access to Comet is currently limited to Perplexity Max subscribers, who pay $200 per month. An invitation-only rollout is underway for Windows and Mac users, with mobile versions for Android and iOS expected to follow later this year. Also read: One UI 8 update: Here's when Galaxy S25 and S24 series may get Android 16 Perplexity says the assistant can summarise emails and calendar events, manage tabs, and navigate web pages on behalf of users. Users can access Comet Assistant by opening a sidecar on any web page, which lets the AI agent see what's on the web page and answer questions about it.