Perplexity has launched an online browser, Comet, providing customers a have a look at how the corporate is evolving past AI search.
Whereas Comet shares acquainted traits with Chrome, it introduces a unique interface mannequin. One the place customers can search, navigate, and run agent-like duties from a single AI-powered atmosphere.
A Browser Designed for AI-Native Workflows
Comet is constructed on Chromium and helps normal browser options like tabs, extensions, and bookmarks.
What units it aside is the inclusion of a sidebar assistant that may summarize pages, automate duties, schedule conferences, and fill out kinds.
You possibly can see it in motion within the launch video beneath:
In an interview, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas described Comet as a step towards combining search and automation right into a single system.
Srinivas stated:
“We give it some thought as an assistant quite than an entire autonomous agent however one omni field the place you possibly can navigate, you possibly can ask formational queries and you may give agentic duties and your AI with you in your new tab web page, in your facet automotive, as an assistant on any net web page you’re, makes the browser really feel like extra like a cognitive working system quite than simply one more browser.”
Perplexity sees Comet as a basis for agentic computing. Future use instances may contain real-time analysis, recurring process administration, and private information integration.
Technique Behind the Shift
Srinivas stated Comet isn’t only a product launch, it’s a long-term guess on browsers as the subsequent main interface for AI.
He described the transfer as a response to rising person demand for AI instruments that do greater than reply to queries in chat home windows.
Srinivas stated:
“The browser is way more durable to repeat than one more chat software.”
He acknowledged that OpenAI and Anthropic are prone to launch comparable instruments, however believes the technical challenges of constructing and sustaining a browser create an extended runway for Perplexity to distinguish.
A Totally different Method From Google
Srinivas additionally commented on the aggressive panorama, together with how Perplexity’s technique differs from Google’s.
He pointed to the stress between AI-driven solutions and ad-based monetization as a limiting issue for conventional search engines like google.
Referring to go looking outcomes the place advertisers compete for placement, Srinivas stated:
“If you happen to get direct solutions to those questions with reserving hyperlinks proper there, how are you going to mint cash from Reserving and Expedia and Kayak… It’s not of their incentive to provide you good solutions in any respect.”
He additionally stated Google’s rollout of AI options has been slower than anticipated:
“The identical characteristic is being launched yr after yr after yr with a unique title, with a unique VP, with a unique group of individuals, however it’s the identical factor besides perhaps it’s getting higher however it’s by no means getting launched to all people.”
Accuracy, Pace, and UX as Priorities
Perplexity is positioning Comet round three core rules: accuracy, low latency, and clear presentation.
Srinivas stated the corporate continues to put money into decreasing hallucinations and rushing up responses whereas protecting person expertise on the middle.
Srinivas added:
“Let there exist 100 chat bots however we’re probably the most centered on getting as many solutions proper as doable.”
Internally, the group depends on AI improvement instruments like Cursor and GitHub Copilot to speed up iteration and testing.
Srinivas famous:
“We made it necessary to make use of a minimum of one AI coding software and internally at Perplexity it occurs to be Cursor and like a mixture of Cursor and GitHub Copilot.”
Srinivas stated the browser supplies the construction wanted to assist extra advanced workflows than a standalone chat interface.
What Comes Subsequent
Comet is at present out there to customers on Perplexity’s Max plan by means of early entry invitations. A broader launch is anticipated, together with plans for cellular assist sooner or later.
Srinivas stated the corporate is exploring enterprise fashions past promoting, together with subscriptions, usage-based pricing, and affiliate transactions.
“All I do know is subscriptions and utilization based mostly pricing are going to be a factor. Transactions… taking a reduce out of the transactions is nice.”
Whereas he doesn’t count on to match Google’s margins, he sees room for a viable various.
“Google’s enterprise mannequin is doubtlessly the most effective enterprise mannequin ever… Possibly it was so good that you simply wanted AI to kill it mainly.”
Wanting Forward
Comet’s launch marks a shift in how AI instruments are being built-in into person workflows.
Reasonably than including assistant options into present merchandise, Perplexity is constructing a brand new interface from the bottom up, designed round pace, reasoning, and process execution.
As the corporate continues to construct round this mannequin, Comet might function a check case for a way customers have interaction with AI past conventional search.
Featured Picture: Ascannio/Shutterstock
