Perplexity is preparing to launch its new AI-powered browser, Comet, with a Windows version now being made available to early testers. CEO Aravind Srinivas also announced that an Android version is “moving ahead of schedule,” signaling a broad release is on the horizon.
Unlike traditional browsers, Comet is built from the ground up to act as a smart assistant. It can answer questions directly without navigating to another page, sift through your online shopping carts to hunt for discounts, or retrieve unanswered emails from your inbox. A Mac beta even showcased a futuristic “Try on” feature, using AI to show you what a piece of clothing would look like on you.
Despite its promise, Comet has already hit a nerve. Srinivas caused a stir when he said the company would use Comet to “get data even outside the app to better understand you.” After a swift backlash over privacy concerns, he walked back his comments, clarifying that any data use for targeted ads would be strictly optional for users.
For now, there is no official public release date, and prospective users can only join a waitlist. When it does launch, Comet will face a crowded field, competing against similar AI-driven browsers from heavyweights like Google, OpenAI, and Opera.
