The AI search engine Perplexity is making a bold move to challenge Google’s dominance on your phone. The startup, backed by heavyweights such as Nvidia and Jeff Bezos, is in talks with smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its new “Comet” browser on their devices.
The strategy is simple but powerful. Most people rarely change the default browser that comes with their phone, whether it’s Chrome on Android or Safari on iPhone. By getting Comet pre-installed, Perplexity hopes to make its AI tools a daily habit for millions of users. The company’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, acknowledged that convincing phone makers to switch from Chrome is a significant challenge, but one they are willing to undertake.
So what does Comet do? It’s more than just a browser. Currently available in a test version on desktops, Comet integrates Perplexity’s powerful AI directly into your web experience. It can answer questions about your personal information, like what’s in your emails or on your calendar. It can even perform tasks for you, such as scheduling a meeting or summarizing a long article, acting like a true digital assistant.
Perplexity faces a tough fight. Google’s Chrome currently holds about 70% of the mobile browser market. However, Perplexity has substantial financial backing.
The company recently completed a $500 million investment round, valuing it at a massive $14 billion, which indicates that investors believe it has a real chance of shaking things up. This move is part of a larger industry shift towards smarter, “agentic” AI that can do things for you, not just answer questions.
