Perplexity AI, a startup backed by Nvidia, announced on Wednesday the launch of Comet, a new AI-powered web browser designed to compete with market giant Google Chrome.
With this move, Perplexity is stepping into the highly competitive browser space, aiming to revolutionize web navigation by using agentic AI that can think and act for users. As of June, Google Chrome held a dominant 68 percent share of the global browser market, according to StatCounter, far ahead of Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
Comet offers a unified interface where users can ask questions, complete tasks, and conduct research. It features an integrated assistant capable of comparing products, summarizing content, scheduling meetings, and simplifying complex processes through natural, conversational interactions.
Currently, Comet is available to subscribers of Perplexity Max, which costs $200 per month, with broader access expected to roll out by invitation over the summer.
The company, which counts Jeff Bezos, SoftBank, and Nvidia among its investors, is using Comet’s release to take on established browsers like Chrome and Edge while also exploring monetization through advertising and e-commerce.
In response to growing interest in AI search, OpenAI recently made its ChatGPT search engine available to all users, while Google introduced its own AI-based search feature, AI Overviews, in May of last year.
Comet emphasizes user privacy by storing data locally and not using personal information for model training, a feature likely to resonate with privacy-focused users.
Still, Perplexity has faced criticism from media outlets including those owned by News Corp, Forbes, Wired, and Dow Jones, for allegedly using their content without permission or compensation. In response, the company has launched a publisher partnership program aimed at building collaborative relationships with news organizations.
Found this article interesting? Follow us on X(Twitter) ,Threads and FaceBook to read more exclusive content we post.
