1. Introduction to Comet
What is Comet?
Comet is a newly launched AI-powered web browser by Perplexity AI. It’s based on the Chromium engine (the same one used by Chrome and Edge) and is designed to seamlessly integrate Perplexity’s conversational AI into your web browsing experience.
Why it matters: Rather than just being a tool for visiting websites, Comet aims to become your intelligent digital assistant, capable of answering questions, performing tasks, and navigating the web for you—all in real-time.
2. Key Features of the Comet Browser
AI Integration
Comet embeds Perplexity’s AI into every part of the browser.
- It can summarize pages, translate content, and answer questions as you browse.
- You can type or use your voice to talk to the browser.
Why it matters: You no longer need to switch between tabs or copy/paste things into ChatGPT or other tools. Comet does this automatically.
Context-Aware Multitasking
Comet remembers what you were doing across tabs and sessions.
- You can refer back to something from a past session.
- Conversations can span multiple websites or tasks.
Why it matters: It eliminates repetitive tasks and helps you work on longer, multi-step projects more efficiently.
Agentic Capabilities
Comet can perform complex actions across websites:
- It can book flights, write emails, order food, or fill out forms—just by asking it to.
- You can say things like: “Find the cheapest flight to Tokyo next week and book it.”
Why it matters: This moves beyond “search” into automation, replacing multiple apps or manual actions.
Privacy and Transparency
- Your browsing data is stored locally, not in the cloud.
- Comet doesn’t use your behavior to train the AI.
- All answers come with clear source citations.
Why it matters: You get transparency and control over your data—unlike many other ad-driven browsers like Chrome.
Other Capabilities
- Can import bookmarks and settings from Chrome.
- Includes a PDF reader with AI-powered summarization.
- Built-in tab organization system that groups pages by topic.
Why it matters: You can switch from Chrome or other browsers easily, and benefit from better organization.
3. Access, Availability & Pricing
Access Model
- Available only to Perplexity Max subscribers (~$200/month).
- Invite-only for now; broader rollout is expected later.
Why it matters: It’s currently limited to power users and early adopters, but may become public in the near future.
Platform Support
- Desktop-only at launch.
- Mobile version is coming later in 2025.
Why it matters: This could limit adoption at first, but mobile is a key focus for expansion (see next section).
4. Market Expansion & Strategic Moves
Smartphone Pre-Installation Plans
- Perplexity is negotiating with phone makers to pre-install Comet as the default browser.
- This could replace Chrome or Safari on many Android phones.
Why it matters: Being pre-installed on devices could give Comet a huge user base—similar to how Google gained dominance with Chrome on Android.
India Expansion via Airtel
- Partnered with Bharti Airtel (India’s largest telecom).
- Offering free Pro subscriptions to 360+ million users.
Why it matters: It makes Perplexity widely available in India, one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing tech markets.
5. CEO Aravind Srinivas’ Vision
Job Automation Statement
- The CEO predicts AI like Comet will replace roles like recruiters, executive assistants, and researchers within 6 months.
Why it matters: Shows how seriously Perplexity is betting on AI’s ability to handle professional-level tasks, not just casual browsing or search.
Philosophy Behind Comet
- Designed to reduce friction in digital workflows.
- Shifts the user model from:
“Click and search” → “Ask and act”
Why it matters: If successful, Comet could redefine how we use the internet entirely—less like Google, more like having an intelligent coworker in your browser.
6. User Reactions & Feedback
Community Response (e.g. Reddit, Early Users)
Positive Feedback:
- AI summarization is very accurate.
- Convenient for research and information tasks.
- Loved the seamless tab organization.
Criticisms:
- Agentic actions can lag or get stuck.
- High subscription cost is a barrier.
- Still lacks deep integration with apps (Gmail, Slack, etc.)
Why it matters: It’s promising but not yet perfect—users see the potential but want smoother execution.
Expert Commentary
- Some tech reviewers call Comet:
“The browser Google should have made.”
- Seen as a true next-gen browser combining search + automation.
Why it matters: It’s not just hype; the browser is receiving serious attention from the tech world.
7. Legal & Ethical Considerations
Copyright & Publisher Disputes
- Perplexity has been criticized for summarizing paywalled content without permission.
- Comet is designed to cite sources and avoid copyrighted content scraping.
Why it matters: AI summarization tools must navigate tricky copyright laws—Comet tries to balance innovation with legal boundaries.
Ethical AI Use
- No behavior tracking.
- Doesn’t use your data to train its models (unless you explicitly allow it).
Why it matters: Comet appeals to users who are concerned about data privacy, unlike many big tech alternatives.
8. Comparison to Other Browsers
| Feature | Comet | Chrome | Arc Browser | Microsoft Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AI Summary & Search | ✅ Built-in | ❌ (Add-ons only) | ✅ (via plugins) | ✅ (via Copilot) |
| Real-time Agentic Actions | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ⚠️ Limited | ⚠️ Limited |
| Session Memory | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ⚠️ Partial | ⚠️ Partial |
| Privacy-first | ✅ Local storage only | ❌ Tracking-heavy | ✅ Limited tracking | ❌ Microsoft tracking |
| App Integration | ⚠️ Limited (planned) | ✅ Extensive | ✅ Moderate | ✅ Extensive |
| Mobile Version | ❌ Coming Soon | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ iOS Only | ✅ Yes |
Why it matters: Comet stands out for its agentic features and privacy-first design, though it currently lacks app integration and mobile support.
9. Strategic Implications
For Users
- Comet can replace dozens of apps: calendars, email assistants, notetakers, and even travel booking.
- However, it comes with a learning curve and high price point.
Takeaway: Great for tech-savvy users or professionals who want AI-driven workflows.
For the Tech Industry
- Comet represents a major leap in browser evolution.
- May force Google and Microsoft to rethink how AI fits into Chrome and Edge.
- Also pressures OpenAI, who hasn’t launched a browser product yet.
Takeaway: This is not just a new product—it may reshape the AI and browser landscape.