Perplexity Launches Comet, an AI-Powered Web Browser
Perplexity, the startup behind the AI-powered "Answers" engine, has launched its own browser, called Comet. It integrates Perplexity's search tools and intelligent assistant, transforming entire browsing sessions into one seamless interaction, according to CEO Aravind Srinivas.
Comet will be available only to users subscribed to the $200-a-month Perplexity Max plan before being rolled out more widely by invitation. The browser uses Perplexity as its primary search engine, offering AI-generated responses to search queries based on results from across the web. It is also supposed to be able to purchase 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 virtual assistant on new Razr phones this year, something Srinivas told The Verge in April. The startup wouldn't have been able to launch without Google's antitrust lawsuit, Srinivas added, "They would have scared a lot of OEMs."
Comet is built on Chromium, the open source project backed by Google that powers major browsers like Chrome and Microsoft Edge. Perplexity has expressed interest in acquiring Chrome if the court forces Google to sell the browser.
In April, Srinivas stated that Perplexity is launching a browser because it "may be the best way to build agents." In addition to Perplexity's integration with search, Comet comes with a built-in AI assistant that can answer questions about what you see on your screen, similar to Gemini's integration with Google Chrome.
The AI assistant is located in the Comet sidebar, and in addition to summarizing or explaining text, it can also perform agent tasks such as booking a meeting, sending an email, or purchasing a product. Srinivas said that Perplexity plans to "continue to release new features and functionality for Comet" in the future.
The browser is currently available for Windows and Mac only and allows you to import your extensions, settings, and bookmarks with a single click.