Perplexity AI's New Comet Browser: Unpacking Why It's Named Comet and Why It’s a Game Changer

Imagine if a browser could think with you, not just for you? This is what Perplexity AI's latest browser promises to do. Named Comet, the newly launched AI-native browser from Perplexity AI is bumping the innovation quotient by a few notches with an approach of treating the internet as an extension of the human mind.

In a blog post, the company said, “The internet has become humanity's extended mind while our tools for using it remain primitive. Our interface for the web should be as fluid and responsive as human thought itself. We built Comet to let the internet do what it has been begging to do: to amplify our intelligence.”

Why the Name Comet?

What better place to ask this than Perplexity AI itself? It said: The name "Comet" was chosen by Perplexity AI to reflect the browser’s mission and qualities.

It like like a comet blazing through space, the browser aims to be fast, bright, and cutting-edge, bringing a new kind of speed. Moreover, a comet is a rare, powerful, and visible phenomenon, symbolizing how Perplexity wants their browser to stand out as a unique and transformative tool in the crowded browser market. Perplexity also says that the the name also suggests exploration and discovery, aligning with Comet’s AI-powered approach to help users navigate and make sense of the vast information on the web more efficiently.

While Perplexity AI hasn’t publicly shared a detailed explanation of the name beyond these symbolic meanings, the branding seems to emphasize speed, intelligence, and a new frontier in browsing: all qualities associated with a comet.

Positioning it as a Browser for the AI Age

At the soul of Comet is an integrated assistant. The company calls it a navigation to cognition. The company says, “The Comet assistant removes friction with every thought, actively conducting entire browsing sessions while you focus on what matters. Ask Comet which other sites have the same bike but ship it faster. Ask Comet to compare what you’re reading to something you already read.”

According to a TechCrunch report, the browser defaults to Perplexity’s own search engine and includes smart features like content summarisation, contextual Q&A, and even task execution—booking meetings or buying products for you on the fly.

Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas describes it as a “cognitive operating system,” built to live alongside users—not just serve them.

Understanding How Comet Works

Since we cannot have hands-on experience with the browser as it is waitlisted for mainstream users, and only available for Perplexity Max users—a newly introduced $200/month premium tier—going by the official sources and querying Perplexity AI, this is what it has to say for a few questions:

In simple terms, define Comet?

Comet turns browsing into a conversation with an AI assistant that helps you get things done faster and smarter without juggling multiple tabs or apps. It’s designed to be like a second brain that helps you research, organise, and act on information directly within the browser, making your online work more fluid and less distracting.

How is Comet different from other browsers?

Here is a side-by-side comparison:

What is the rationale for Perplexity to launch this right now?

Perplexity AI launched the Comet browser now primarily to challenge Google’s dominance in how people find and interact with information online, especially in search and browsing. The rationale includes several key points:

Direct User Reach: By launching Comet as a full web browser with Perplexity’s AI search engine built in as the default, Perplexity aims to reach users directly without relying on Google Chrome or other browsers. This is strategic because Chrome currently dominates the browser market, and controlling the browser means controlling the primary gateway to the internet.

Shift from Search to AI-Powered Workflows: Comet is designed to move beyond traditional search by integrating an AI assistant that can understand webpage content, summarise information, automate routine tasks (like managing tabs, booking meetings, or answering questions), and keep users in one seamless workspace. This “shift from navigation to cognition” aims to make browsing more productive and less fragmented.

Capitalising on AI Trends: With AI becoming central to how people interact with technology, Perplexity sees an opportunity to build a browser that fully leverages AI capabilities, rather than just adding AI features as an afterthought. Google itself is integrating AI into Chrome, signalling that AI-powered browsers are the future. Perplexity wants to be a leader in this space.

User Retention and Growth: Perplexity’s CEO Aravind Srinivas has emphasised that becoming the default browser can lead to “infinite retention,” meaning users will continuously engage with Perplexity’s AI services, generating more queries and data to improve the platform.

Privacy and User Control: Comet also focuses on privacy by storing data locally and offering multiple tracking modes, addressing growing user concerns about data security and privacy in mainstream browsers.

Expanding Perplexity’s Ecosystem: The launch of Comet fits into Perplexity’s broader strategy of expanding beyond search into AI-powered assistants and tools across platforms, including mobile assistants and ad-supported services.

In summary, Perplexity launched Comet now to seize the AI browser opportunity early, offer a fundamentally new browsing experience centred on AI-driven cognition and productivity, and strategically compete with Google by controlling the browser layer itself rather than just the search layer.

Exclusive for Now, Expanding Soon

As we mentioned earlier, currently, Comet is only available to subscribers of Perplexity Max, a newly introduced $200/month premium tier. That price tag includes unlimited access to Perplexity Labs, early access to new features, and top-tier AI models like OpenAI’s o3-pro and Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4. Rollout to waitlisted users will continue over the summer, with support for Windows and macOS now live. Mobile versions are likely on the horizon.

Is it a Well-Timed Strike Against Google?

The browser’s release comes at a curious inflection point. Google Chrome commands over 66% of the market, but user fatigue—and antitrust scrutiny—are mounting. OpenAI is reportedly weeks away from launching its own AI browser. And Perplexity is making its move.

The company has already secured partnerships with Motorola, is in talks with Samsung, and is building relationships with international telecom players. It’s even expressed interest in acquiring Chrome if regulators ever force a breakup.

Perplexity handled 780 million queries in May 2025 alone, and with growth topping 20% month-on-month, Srinivas believes they'll soon hit a billion queries a week. With Comet, Perplexity isn’t just launching a browser—it’s attempting to change the way we think about the web itself.