Will Comet replace Chrome? A new browser from Perplexity with AI that really works!

A new player has entered the browser market – Comet from Perplexity. This isn't just another Chrome overlay with a bot in the background. Comet is a browser built from the ground up with artificial intelligence in mind. And it's the sort of AI that not only answers questions but can also send emails for you, close tabs, or unsubscribe you from newsletters.

The project is backed by Perplexity – a startup supported by Nvidia, which is already openly challenging Google's dominance in searching and browsing the web. Comet uses its own AI 'answer engine' rather than classic Google results. Instead of a page full of links, you get a straightforward answer and sources.

How does it work and how is it different from Chrome?

Comet is based on the Chromium engine, which is the same foundation as Chrome and Edge. But instead of the Google search engine, at the centre, we find the Perplexity Answer Engine – based on the GPT-4o models, Claude 4, and a proprietary Sonar.

What can it do? Comet can summarise an article, describe an image, analyse a YouTube video, and even compile a summary of all open tabs. Additionally – through the Assistant button in the corner of the browser – you can assign specific tasks to the AI agent. And this isn’t about conversation; it’s about taking actual actions on your behalf.

Example? Just say: “take control of my browser and post on LinkedIn”, and Comet will try to do it – of course, with your consent and after logging into the appropriate account.

Should Google be worried?

For now, Comet is only available to Perplexity Max subscribers and users on the waiting list. But the company is considering a free version – with paid premium features. In May, Perplexity recorded 780 million searches, which, compared to 5 trillion annually from Google, still looks like a drop in the ocean. On the other hand – a 20% month-on-month growth is a pace that should raise alarms in Mountain View.

Moreover, the startup is in talks with smartphone manufacturers to have Comet pre-installed on new devices. And if Google is forced to spin off Chrome as a result of the antitrust case in the US – the doors could swing wide open.