The American company Perplexity has launched an experimental web browser Comet, focused on integrating artificial intelligence into the daily work of users with the Internet. The new product combines the Perplexity search engine and a new-generation AI assistant, forming the concept of a "smart browser" that can not only display sites, but also actively interact with content on behalf of the user.
Comet at the first stage is available only to subscribers of the Perplexity Max tariff, which costs $200 per month, as well as to a limited number of members of the closed waiting list. The main functional feature is the AI-powered Perplexity search engine installed by default, with an emphasis on generating structured and concise summaries instead of classic links. According to the developers, this allows you to save time and get more relevant information in a compressed form.
A key technological innovation is Comet Assistant, a personal AI agent that can perform routine actions: process emails, sync with calendars, manage browser tabs, and even navigate web pages without user input. This level of automation turns the browser into a full-fledged working platform integrated with digital services.
The company's CEO, Aravind Srinivas, previously stated that the strategic goal of Perplexity is to develop a "new type of operating system" in which the browser will become an interface for interacting with AI in all areas-from personal tasks to working with corporate platforms. In June, he also noted that setting Comet as the default browser can dramatically increase user activity and strengthen the binding to the service. In May, the platform recorded 780 million search queries, showing a monthly increase of more than 20%.
Comet enters the market in a highly competitive environment. In addition to the dominant Chrome and Safari, a similar AI browser, Dia, appeared in June, and OpenAI's plans to create its own browser with elements of artificial intelligence are also actively discussed. Against this background, Comet relies on the depth of AI integration into workflows and personalization.
At the same time, the full operation of Comet Assistant requires extensive permissions: to use all functions, you need to provide access to email, calendar, and even the device screen. This raises concerns among users regarding privacy and data protection.
The first tests showed that the assistant effectively copes with the tasks of sorting emails and scheduling events, but at more complex stages there are inaccuracies. For example, when booking appointments, the AI made mistakes in dates — one of the common problems known as" AI hallucinations", when the model generates reliable-sounding but factually incorrect information.
Despite this, the launch of Comet reflects the desire of technology companies to rethink the very concept of the browser, turning it into an intelligent assistant that can independently make decisions and work in the interests of the user.
