Perplexity's own browser "Comet" with integrated AI agents now available
Comet is based on Chromium and uses Perplexity as its search engine. The web browser with integrated AI assistant initially reserved for Perplexity Max users.
Comet
(Image: Perplexity)
Perplexity has now launched its AI browser, Comet. This is intended to enable more than just an “agentic search,” as integrated AI agents should even be able to perform complex tasks for the user, such as booking a hotel room. The default search engine is, of course, Perplexity itself, and the built-in AI assistant is also based on this artificial intelligence (AI) model. Initially, Comet is only available to paying subscribers of Perplexity Max, but the circle of users is to be expanded in the future.
Perplexity had already announced its browser at the end of February, but the AI company had not given a release date. Comet is now available for at least a limited number of users. This is because the recently launched Perplexity Max subscription costs 200 US dollars a month, so it is unlikely that there will be millions or hundreds of thousands of Comet users, at least initially. However, Perplexity boss Aravind Srinivas at X (formerly Twitter) promises that this is only temporary. Access will not be limited to Max subscribers. There is a waiting list, and Comet users can already invite other users to join. Soon, Pro subscribers will also have access to Comet before it is opened to all interested parties.
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The browser uses the Chromium engine so that, according to Perplexity, Comet is fundamentally similar to well-known browsers such as Chrome or Edge, is widely compatible with common web standards, and can also be extended using Chrome extensions. The special feature is the integrated AI assistant, which automatically recognizes websites, can evaluate or summarize them, but can also be used for complex actions, writes Perplexity. For example, Comet should be able to organize a meeting or write an email based on the opened website. Users can also instruct Comet to buy something or list today's tasks.
Comet wants far-reaching data access
For these actions, Comet requires access to personal data, such as the complete Google profile, including all corresponding authorizations if the user uses Gmail or the Google calendar. According to Reuters, however, this personal data will only be stored locally and will not be used to train AI models. This also applies to all data exchanged with Comet.
In an initial test of Comet, TechCrunch liked the operation of the browser and the integrated AI assistant directly in the same window. This is because copying content from websites and pasting it into another AI app such as ChatGPT is no longer necessary in Comet. Comet was also able to easily search the calendar and draw attention to upcoming events, summarize emails, and point out supposedly important things in the inbox.
Comet problems with more complex tasks
However, Comet had problems with complex tasks. TechCrunch wanted to instruct the AI assistant to find a parking space at the airport for an upcoming trip at an acceptable price. The parking space found met the requirements, but the booking was for the wrong period, because according to Comet, the parking spaces were already occupied on the desired dates. Although the user had specified the dates as irrevocable, Comet insisted on completing the booking for the wrong period. The AI was obviously hallucinating with the data.
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Comet is currently available for Windows and macOS, but other AI companies are also working on their browsers. Back in November 2024, it was reported that OpenAI wanted to enter the browser war. Relevant employees were brought on board for this purpose. At the end of May this year, Opera launched Neon, an AI browser. This is designed to understand the user's intentions and perform tasks using an integrated AI agent. In addition, Dia, a new AI browser from the Arc makers, recently entered the beta phase.
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