Comet browser is designed to be a thought partner: Perplexity’s Aravind Srinivas

By Admin

11 Jul, 2025

The dawn of the AI browser era is here, and leading the charge is Perplexity with its ambitious new product   Comet. Unlike traditional web browsers that serve as passive windows to the internet, Comet is being positioned by Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas as “a thought partner and assistant”. This next-generation browser promises intelligent task automation, personalised experiences, and productivity tools like never before   all deeply rooted in artificial intelligence.

The First True ‘AI Browser’

Perplexity’s Comet may be the world’s first AI browser, but it certainly won’t be the last. It’s a fresh take on how users engage with the internet. Built from the ground up   unlike existing browsers like Chrome or Safari which integrate AI in layers   Comet is a native AI-first experience. Currently rolling out for Windows PCs and Mac devices, Comet is initially available exclusively to users subscribed to the $200/month Perplexity Max plan. However, Srinivas has confirmed that access will eventually open to Pro users and then the broader public. As of now, the waitlist for Comet has surpassed 450,000 eager users.

What Sets Comet Apart?

Most browsers today offer AI-driven features like webpage summarisation or content Q&A through plugins or embedded tools. But Comet supercharges the experience by incorporating:

• Conversational interface powered by large language models (LLMs)
  
  

• Multimodal capabilities, including computer vision to interpret and analyse media
  
  

• Advanced task automation, from buying products to booking travel tickets
  
  

• Real-time contextual interaction with any webpage through Comet Assistant
  
  

This isn't just convenience   it's the rise of agentic AI, where your browser does more than respond to commands; it begins to think ahead for you.

Infrastructure, Cost, and the Future

While some may balk at the current $200/month Max plan price tag, Aravind Srinivas is transparent about the cost structure: “Max tier will be able to run repetitive agent queries on the most advanced models with nearly infinite limits. World will adapt to this change.” He acknowledges that the infrastructure to scale this to all users is a challenge: “Infra is not as easy as we thought,” he writes, but work is underway to make Comet more accessible.

Comet isn't just a browser; it's envisioned as a Cognitive Operating System   a platform that removes the cognitive burden from users by automating recurring digital tasks. Through features like automated tasks set with simple natural language, Comet aims to turn your browser into a productivity companion that keeps pace with your life.

Search Reimagined

With Perplexity’s own search engine integrated as the default, Comet also presents a bold challenge to Google’s long-standing search dominance. Users can expect seamless summarisation of search results, documents, and webpages   all without leaving the browser interface. This core functionality has already found support in recent partnerships, including Samsung and Motorola, where Perplexity’s search engine now features prominently in default apps like the Samsung Browser.

Mobile Prospects on the Horizon

Looking ahead, the question arises: will Comet find its way to Android and iOS devices? Given Perplexity’s expanding ecosystem and recent mobile deals, an AI-native mobile browser doesn’t seem far off. If Comet brings its capabilities to smartphones, it could redefine how billions interact with the web   seamlessly, intelligently, and contextually.

Final Thoughts

Perplexity’s Comet may have just fired the starting gun in the race for AI browsers, but the impact could be far-reaching. As Srinivas notes, “Your browser will turn into a mini-OS with smart cron jobs that run your life while removing cognitive burden.” While competitors like OpenAI are rumored to be working on their own AI browsers, Comet has claimed the early mover advantage.

We may be witnessing a fundamental shift in how we explore and engage with the web   and it starts with a browser that doesn’t just display information, but thinks with you.