Perplexity has launched Comet, its AI-powered web browser, directly challenging Google’s online information access dominance. The browser integrates Perplexity’s AI search engine, emphasizing AI-generated summaries of search results.
Comet is initially available to subscribers of Perplexity’s $200-per-month Max plan and a select group of invitees. A key component of Comet is the Comet Assistant, a new AI agent designed to automate routine tasks within the browser. The Comet Assistant can summarize emails and calendar events, manage tabs, and navigate web pages. It is accessible via a sidecar that allows it to understand and interact with open web content. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas has heavily promoted Comet, viewing it as crucial in the company’s competition with Google and a step towards creating an “operating system with which you can do almost everything,” as he stated.
The browser enters a competitive market, with Google Chrome and Apple’s Safari holding significant shares. Other AI-powered browsers, such as The Browser Company’s Dia, offer similar functionalities, and OpenAI is reportedly considering its own browser. Despite the crowded landscape, Perplexity’s strong growth suggests it could gain traction. The company reported 780 million queries in May 2025 and over 20% month-over-month growth.
While the Comet Assistant proved helpful for simple tasks like summarizing emails and calendar events, more complex requests revealed limitations. For instance, booking airport parking highlighted issues including “hallucinations” where the AI provided incorrect information. This highlights a common challenge for AI agents, requiring significant user data access for full functionality. Nevertheless, Comet’s integrated AI capabilities offer new potential in the evolving browser landscape.
