Perplexity’s new Comet browser passes through cyberspace with built-in AI assistant

Perplexity AI has launched Comet, its first web browser designed to challenge Google Chrome’s 68% market dominance by integrating conversational AI directly into browsing sessions. The Chromium-based browser transforms passive web searches into real-time conversations through its built-in Comet Assistant, allowing users to ask questions about any webpage without opening new tabs or switching between sites.

What makes Comet different: The browser integrates Perplexity’s conversational AI directly into every browsing session through the Comet Assistant sidebar.

• Users can ask questions about any page they’re viewing, whether shopping for products, booking hotels, or summarizing news stories.
• The assistant eliminates the need to bounce between sites or copy-paste search queries by providing answers within the current browsing context.
• Built on Chromium like Chrome and Edge, but focuses on embedding AI into the browsing experience itself rather than treating search as a separate step.

Limited availability: Comet is currently restricted to Perplexity Pro Max subscribers and select testers, with broader rollout planned for summer 2025.

• Access requires a $200/month Perplexity Pro Max subscription.
• Desktop support for Mac and Windows will roll out first, followed by mobile apps.
• The company expects wider availability later this summer.

Privacy promise: Comet positions itself as a privacy-focused alternative in an era of growing digital surveillance concerns.

• No personal data is used to train AI models, according to Perplexity.
• Browsing activity is stored locally rather than on company servers.
• The privacy-by-design approach differentiates it from traditional browsers that collect extensive user data.

The big picture: Comet represents a fundamental shift in browser design, embedding AI agents directly into web browsing rather than keeping search separate.

• Companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI are racing to develop intelligent assistants and AI-enhanced browsers.
• Perplexity AI, the fast-rising search startup backed by Jeff Bezos, Nvidia and SoftBank, is betting that users want integrated agents and privacy protection, not just traditional search results.
• The browser’s success could hinge on resolving ongoing licensing disputes with major media companies and whether Chrome’s AI Overviews can retain users.