Perplexity has launched its new AI-powered web browser called Comet. This browser is designed to compete with Google Search. Currently, Comet is available only to subscribers of the company’s $200-per-month “Max” plan and a small group of invited users.
The main feature of the Comet browser is its AI-powered search engine, which summarizes search results using artificial intelligence and presents them directly to users. The browser also includes an AI assistant called Comet Assistant. This assistant can summarize emails and calendar events, manage open tabs, and perform actions on web pages on behalf of the user. Users can ask the assistant questions on any webpage because it can see the content of that page.
The company’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, considers Comet a key tool in competing with Google. Comet aims to attract users away from major browsers like Google Chrome and keep them on its own platform. Currently, Google Chrome and Apple Safari dominate the market, but competition in AI-powered browsers is accelerating.
Comet Assistant performs well with simple tasks, such as summarizing emails and managing calendar events. However, it makes mistakes with more complex tasks, like finding and booking a parking spot at the airport. This shows that AI agents are not yet fully reliable.
Overall, Comet offers new capabilities and could strengthen Perplexity’s position in the market, but the technology is still developing and has some limitations.
