Perplexity just launched Comet, an AI-powered web browser aiming to rival Google Chrome. It’s available now to Perplexity Max subscribers or via an early access waitlist. Comet replaces Google Search results with its own AI “answer engine” that blends links and AI summaries directly in the address bar.
The browser packs a built-in AI assistant, accessed via an Assistant button. It chats via text or voice, summarizes articles, explains images, and even reads YouTube videos. It scans open tabs, offering summaries and product comparisons.
Comet doesn’t just suggest—it acts. After linking a Google account, it quickly generated and sent emails, closed old tabs, and published posts on X. It unsubscribed from promotional emails by navigating and clicking the buttons itself, showing the process live in the interface. 
It accepted LinkedIn invites based on mutual connections but sometimes lagged behind manual actions. For example, unsubscribing manually took 30 seconds versus Comet’s two minutes. Still, it’s useful for accessibility and multitasking.
Typing “take control of my browser” unlocks deeper agentic powers. Comet summarized hidden comments on a Verge article by expanding the comments section itself—something Google’s Gemini integration can’t do.
It also shopped on Amazon, adding items, choosing Prime shipping, selecting payment, and checking out without prompts. Booking restaurant reservations worked but had mistakes, like using placeholder contact info instead of real details.
Perplexity spokesperson Jesse Dwyer admitted:
“Some of the more complicated agentic actions like shopping do have a higher failure rate than simpler tasks, but this is actually a limitation of current AI models,” Perplexity spokesperson Jesse Dwyer told The Verge. “So this will only get easier and better in Comet.”
Comet outruns Chrome’s current AI features and reflects Perplexity’s goal to challenge Google’s search and browsing dominance. CEO Aravind Srinivas sees it as a key tool to catch up and compete.
