Perplexity AI’s Bold Move: Comet Browser Set to Challenge Chrome and Safari

Introduction

In a world dominated by Google Chrome and Apple Safari, a new challenger has entered the arena. Perplexity AI , the fast-growing Nvidia-backed startup known for its AI-powered search and summarisation platform, is now aiming to disrupt the mobile browser market with its upcoming Comet browser. Recent reports reveal that Perplexity is in talks with major smartphone makers to pre-install Comet on their devices, potentially reshaping how users browse, search, and interact with the internet.

Who is Perplexity AI?

Perplexity AI has rapidly gained popularity as an AI-native search platform. Unlike traditional search engines that show a list of links, Perplexity answers queries directly using advanced language models. Backed by big names such as Nvidia, Accel, Jeff Bezos, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, the company recently closed a $500 million funding round, taking its valuation to an impressive $14 billion.

This financial backing gives Perplexity a strong foundation to innovate in AI products that directly compete with global giants like Google and Apple.

What is Perplexity Comet Browser ?

The Comet browser is Perplexity’s latest project, currently in beta for desktop users. What makes Comet different from Chrome, Safari, or Edge is its deep integration of AI features directly into the browsing experience.

Here are some standout features of Comet:

• AI-powered queries within the browser: Users can ask Comet questions about their emails, calendar schedules, or anything they are browsing.

• Task automation: Comet can schedule meetings, summarise webpages, draft emails, and organise information with minimal user input.

• Agentic AI: The browser acts as a digital assistant embedded within your browser, proactively helping rather than passively waiting for input.

The Vision of Perplexity CEO Arvind Srinivas

In an exclusive with Reuters, CEO Arvind Srinivas acknowledged the challenge of breaking into a market dominated by entrenched players. However, he emphasised that if Perplexity succeeds in securing pre-installation deals with smartphone makers, it could be a game-changer for user adoption.

He said:

“While it is tough to clear old debts, securing such deals could prove to be a game-changer for user growth.”

His vision is clear – Comet should not just be another browser but a gateway to a new AI-embedded internet experience for hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

Why Mobile Pre-installation Matters

Most users stick to the default browsers on their smartphones. According to StatCounter,

• Google Chrome has a whopping 70% share of the mobile browser market.

• Apple Safari and Samsung Internet together account for 24%.

This means that unless a browser is pre-installed or offers unique value, it struggles to gain meaningful market share. Pre-installing Comet could give Perplexity instant access to millions of devices, bypassing the user friction of downloading and trying a new app.

Agentic AI: The Next Evolution of Browsers

At the core of Comet lies the idea of “agentic AI” – browsers with embedded intelligence that act as digital agents. This is not just about searching faster or blocking ads but about:

• Planning trips end-to-end, from browsing flights to booking hotels.

• Managing finances, summarising bank statements or due bills.

• Organising daily life, like a real personal assistant embedded within your browser.

The industry is fast moving towards agentic AI. Even OpenAI is reportedly working on an AI-powered browser to handle multi-step complex tasks in the near future. This signals a shift where browsing is no longer passive but intelligent and interactive.

Competition with Google Chrome and Apple Safari

Replacing or challenging Chrome and Safari will not be easy:

• Chrome benefits from Google’s ecosystem dominance, search integration, and years of optimisation.

• Safari is deeply integrated with iOS, ensuring speed and battery efficiency.

• Samsung Internet is popular in the Android ecosystem for its privacy-focused features.

However, Comet’s advantage lies in its AI-first approach. If users experience real productivity gains from Comet, they may prefer it over traditional browsers, just as many switched to Perplexity’s AI search from Google for direct answers.

Potential Partnership with Apple and Samsung

Interestingly, earlier reports suggest that Perplexity is also in talks with Apple and Samsung to integrate its AI features into Siri and Bixby. If these deals materialise, Perplexity could:

1. Embed its AI within voice assistants, making Comet’s capabilities accessible without opening a browser.

2. Drive millions of users towards its AI services seamlessly, without requiring them to change their browsing habits drastically.

Funding, Valuation, and Future Plans

With $500 million raised in its recent funding round, Perplexity AI has the capital to pursue large-scale deals with device makers. Its valuation of $14 billion places it among the top AI startups globally, alongside companies like Anthropic and Cohere.

Perplexity plans to:

• Stabilise Comet for a few hundred thousand testers in its current beta phase.

• Target “tens to hundreds of millions” of users within the next year, according to Srinivas.

This ambitious roadmap signals that Perplexity sees Comet as a cornerstone of its growth strategy beyond AI search.

The Challenges Ahead

While the vision is bold, there are hurdles:

• User trust: AI summarisation and task automation require deep access to user data like emails and calendars, which raises privacy concerns.

• Performance and speed: Users expect browsers to be light and fast. Heavy AI features may slow down performance if not optimised.

• Habit change: Convincing users to switch from Chrome or Safari requires an overwhelmingly better experience.

Conclusion

Perplexity AI’s Comet browser represents a fascinating shift in how we may browse the web in the future. Its agentic AI approach could redefine productivity, making browsers active assistants rather than mere gateways to the internet.

However, dethroning Google Chrome and Apple Safari, which together control the vast majority of the market, will require more than funding and features. It will need:

• Seamless user experience
• Uncompromised privacy and security
• Strategic pre-installation deals with smartphone makers

If Perplexity can deliver on these fronts, Comet may not just be another browser but a transformative tool that changes how we use the internet daily.