Perplexity’s Comet Browser Shoots for the Stars with AI on Board

Key Highlights

 

Perplexity has introduced Comet, its first AI-powered web browser, as a bold challenge to Google's search and browsing dominance. Comet is designed for today's internet user and introduces artificial intelligence to its very core, aiming to transform browsing from a tab-filled, manual process to a frictionless, conversational one.

 

AI at the Center

 

The crown jewel of Comet is its built-in Comet Assistant, an AI bot that lives in the sidebar. This assistant can summarize websites, tell users what is on the screen, manage tabs, schedule meetings, send emails, and even make purchases—all without users ever needing to switch tabs or copy-paste information.

 

It is constructed on Chromium, which makes it Chrome extension compatible and also supports one-click bookmark and setting import.

 

A New Browsing Paradigm

 

Compared with conventional browsers, Comet does away with the tabbed interface for a workspace where all the things users want remain there. The AI monitors what users read or write, makes recommendations on the basis of what users are doing, closes inactive tabs, and reminds users of past sessions.

 

Comet is designed to work with business apps like Slack, and can do advanced voice or text queries, and is thus a valuable tool for research, productivity, and daily workflows.

 

Privacy and Performance

 

Comet supports a hybrid AI infrastructure that provides local processing for basic operations and cloud APIs for complex operations. Personal data, such as calendar data, is allowed to be processed locally for privacy.

 

A built-in ad blocker is integrated, setting Comet apart from ad-blocking restricted browsers.

 

Access and Future Plans Comet is currently only accessible to Perplexity Max subscribers ($200/month) and select invitees, with broader releases in the coming months. It supports Windows and Mac browsers and has mobile implementations underway.

 

Perplexity wishes to roll out new features on a regular basis so that Comet is a "cognitive operating system" that will eventually supplant the regular browser for everyone.

 

Comet's launch is a significant departure from navigation to cognition, which is poised to make the internet smarter, more accessible, and user-oriented.

 

Sources: TechCrunch, The Verge, Perplexity AI Blog, CNBC, Indian Express