Perplexity launches Comet, an AI-powered web browser: Here’s how it challenges Google Search

Is Google Search finally facing a credible challenger?
Perplexity thinks so. The rising AI startup just launched Comet, its first-ever AI-powered web browser, designed to fundamentally reshape how users explore the internet. Built to be smarter, faster, and more intuitive, Comet could mark a pivotal shift in the decades-old dominance of traditional search engines.

The timing couldn’t be more strategic. With the browser market heating up—from The Browser Company’s Dia to OpenAI’s rumored entrant—Comet aims to position itself as a serious contender against tech giants like Google Chrome and Safari.

What Is Comet?

Comet is built on Chromium, the same open-source framework that powers Chrome. This allows users to:

• Run existing Chrome extensions
• Import bookmarks
• Maintain compatibility with nearly all modern websites

But the real difference lies under the hood. At its core, Comet integrates Perplexity’s AI-native search engine, known for delivering concise, real-time overviews of complex queries. Instead of long lists of links, users receive direct, sourced answers—turning information overload into focused insight.

Meet Comet Assistant: Your On-Page AI Companion

Comet goes a step further with Comet Assistant, an embedded AI helper designed to enhance daily browsing. Key features include:

• Summarizing emails and calendar events
• Organizing open browser tabs
• Assisting in webpage navigation and interactions

Unlike other AI overlays, Comet Assistant is natively baked into the browser experience, offering a more seamless and proactive digital companion.

Perplexity’s Mission: Rebuilding the Web for Curiosity

In its launch blog post, Perplexity made its mission clear:

“The web—our greatest source of information—was never designed to nurture curiosity... That’s why we made Comet.”

This philosophical stance sets Comet apart. Where Google emphasizes indexed breadth, Perplexity is focused on context, clarity, and comprehension—aiming to make browsing feel less like hunting for needles in haystacks and more like having a conversation with knowledge itself.

How It Challenges Google

While Google Search is still dominant, it has increasingly been critiqued for:

• Ad-heavy results
• SEO-manipulated content
• Information overload

Comet’s value proposition is the AI-first experience: fewer ads, real answers, and integrated productivity. The inclusion of a smart assistant also taps into user expectations shaped by tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Gemini—but without leaving the browser.

With OpenAI reportedly building its own browser, and Apple rumored to explore AI search alternatives, Comet’s launch signals a broader disruption in how we interact with the web.

Actionable Takeaways:

• Try Comet if you're looking for a smarter, AI-native browser alternative to Chrome or Safari.
• Watch how Google responds, especially as AI-native search rivals proliferate.
• Follow Perplexity as a potential leader in reimagining search and browser synergy.