Perplexity has introduced Comet, its first AI-powered browser, to a group of Max subscribers and a growing waitlist. The browser replaces standard search results with Perplexity’s answer engine and adds an assistant that can chat about pages, summarize content, and perform actions on behalf of the user.
How Comet Changes Web Browsing
Comet removes the need to switch apps for AI help. Users type queries into the address bar to see both links and AI-generated answers in a single view. An assistant icon in the toolbar opens a chat pane where users can ask questions about any open page, request image descriptions, or even ask the browser to compare products across tabs.
Tasks Comet Can Perform
After linking an account, Comet can send emails, unsubscribe from lists, and manage social media posts. It can scan a user’s inbox to remove promotional messages or accept connections on professional networks by following the criteria set by the user. Comet also handles shopping tasks by adding items to a cart, selecting shipping options, and completing checkout when prompted to take control of the browser.
Performance and Tradeoffs
Some tasks run in the background more slowly than manual steps. Unsubscribing from two services took Comet two minutes compared to thirty seconds by hand. Booking a reservation required corrections for placeholder details. Despite these limits, Perplexity aims to improve task success rates over time as its models become more capable.
Future and Reach
Perplexity is in talks with phone makers to preinstall Comet on new devices. The company plans to scale from hundreds of thousands of testers to tens of millions of users by next year. CEO Aravind Srinivas believes the browser could one day automate key roles like schedule management and candidate outreach for businesses.
Comet also offers privacy modes that limit data tracking for corporate environments and personal tasks alike. As AI browsers gain popularity, Perplexity aims to challenge Chrome by making every website a hub for search summaries and smart automation.
