In the rapidly evolving world of AI-driven technology, web browsers are becoming the new frontlines. Perplexity, the Nvidia-backed AI startup, has launched Comet, a browser that blends traditional web navigation with built-in agentic AI capabilities. This move signals a shift away from the chatbot-only model, as companies increasingly embed large language models (LLMs) into platforms where users already spend their time, like browsers.
What is Comet?
Comet is an LLM-powered browser designed to act not just as a gateway to the internet but as an intelligent assistant. Built on Google’s Chromium framework, it maintains compatibility with Chrome extensions while replacing the conventional Google Search experience with Perplexity’s proprietary ‘answer engine’, powered by models like OpenAI’s GPT-4o and Anthropic’s Claude 4.0 Sonnet.
The browser can summarise articles, describe images, conduct research, and even summarise content from open tabs. But its standout feature is the AI Assistant, a sidebar interface that users can command with natural prompts like “take control of my browser and…”. It can write and send emails, schedule events, unsubscribe from newsletters, and even manage social media posts.
Comet vs Chrome: What Sets It Apart?
While Google is experimenting with Gemini integration in Chrome and has already introduced AI Overviews, Comet goes a step further. Its AI is not just a search assistant—it’s an agentic system capable of taking autonomous action within the browser. Think of it as a background worker, continuously streamlining tasks without interrupting your workflow.
Comet’s ability to access context from third-party apps (once logged in) allows it to automate complex workflows, something Chrome does not yet support natively. However, some advanced tasks—like shopping—still face reliability issues, a limitation attributed to current-generation AI models.
Why Now?
This launch comes at a critical juncture. The U.S. antitrust case against Google could lead to Chrome being separated from its parent’s search business. This creates an opening for newcomers like Comet, especially as users grow more comfortable with AI-generated content and interfaces.
Perplexity, which reported over 780 million searches in May 2025, is riding a wave of monthly growth (20% MoM) and looking to scale. Reports suggest the company is in talks with smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Comet on upcoming devices, a strategy reminiscent of how Google cemented Chrome’s dominance.
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Access & Availability
Currently, Comet is only available to Perplexity Max subscribers or those on the early access waitlist. The company has hinted that a broader release may follow, but advanced agentic features will likely remain behind a subscription tier.
The Big Picture
While Chrome remains the default browser for billions, the shift toward AI-native platforms is undeniable. Comet’s agentic capabilities make it more than just a search tool—it’s an operational co-pilot. Whether it can truly challenge Chrome’s dominance will depend on user trust, performance reliability, and scale. But one thing is clear: the browser wars are being rebooted—and this time, AI is in the driver’s seat.
