Perplexity, the AI startup, has teased the release of its own web browser, Comet.
On Monday, the company revealed an upcoming browser and opened a signup list for early users anxious to try out this technology. While details are limited, Perplexity has positioned Comet as a pioneering addition to the browsing landscape.
Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity, attributes the project's ambitious nature to describing Comet as an "agentic browser" that will use AI for deep research and task automation. This means that Comet will offer an advanced AI-driven browsing experience, potentially altering how users interact with the web. However, specifics about its design, availability on platforms like Windows and macOS, or whether it will be based on Chromium remain unknown.
The browser market is fiercely competitive, with established companies such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Edge dominating the space. Additionally, innovative new entrants like the Dia browser from The Browser Company are also integrating AI-powered functionalities. Perplexity appears to be counting on its expanding user base and the performance of its AI-powered search engine to carve out a niche for Comet in this competitive market.
This announcement comes as Perplexity aggressively expands its product portfolio. In recent months, the company introduced a deep research tool designed to compete with OpenAI and Google, an AI-powered Android assistant, and an API for AI search. With over $500 million in venture capital funding and a $9 billion valuation, Perplexity is establishing itself as a prominent player in the AI-driven internet landscape.
Despite its rapid growth, Perplexity is facing legal threats from big publishers like News Corp's Dow Jones and the New York Post, which have accused the company of unauthorized content use. The company claims that it respects publisher rights and offers revenue-sharing plans to solve these concerns.
With Comet on the Horizon, Perplexity hopes to expand its influence beyond AI-powered search into the overall web browsing experience. Whether it can actually overhaul the browser remains to be seen, but the tech industry will be keeping a careful eye.