Artificial intelligence is steadily reshaping the way we use the internet, and one of the boldest experiments in this direction is Comet, the new browser created by Perplexity AI. Unlike the traditional browsers we are used to, such as Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, Comet is designed not only to load web pages but also to act on them. It does not simply wait for you to type in a query and click through dozens of results; it actively interprets what you want, summarizes what you see, and can even perform tasks for you. Perplexity describes it as a “browser for agentic search,” and while the term may sound technical, the concept is simple: the browser becomes a true assistant, not just a window into the web.
What Makes Comet Different from Traditional Browsers
At first glance, Comet looks familiar because it is built on Chromium, the same foundation that powers Google Chrome. This means users can import their bookmarks, install extensions, and feel comfortable with its layout. The difference lies in how tightly the browser integrates with artificial intelligence. Where Chrome or Safari leave you to manage your own searches, tabs, and tasks, Comet offers an ever-present AI sidecar that can interpret whatever page you are on. If you open an article, Comet can immediately tell you the key points without forcing you to scroll through thousands of words. If you are comparing products, it can lay out the pros and cons clearly. If you are filling out forms, it can remember your context and speed up the process. Instead of switching between search results and separate chatbots, everything happens inside the browser itself.
Exploring the Key Features of Comet
The most noticeable feature of Comet is the AI assistant that sits in a side panel and accompanies you as you browse. Unlike add-on chatbots that operate separately, this assistant reads the content of the page you are on and responds with context-aware insights. You can ask it to summarize a dense academic article, explain a technical term in plain language, or highlight the arguments made in a long editorial. Beyond simply reading, Comet is capable of agentic actions, which means it can follow instructions across multiple steps. If you tell it to look for a hotel in Paris between certain dates, it will not just link you to booking websites but can actually navigate them, apply your filters, and present you with the most relevant options.
This agentic quality extends into other everyday scenarios. Students might load several tabs with research sources and ask Comet to provide a comparative overview of the arguments. Shoppers could request the best budget laptop that balances performance with reliability, leaving Comet to digest hundreds of reviews and product descriptions. Travelers can direct it to build an itinerary that meets their budget and preferences. The experience is less about endless clicking and more about delegating tasks to the browser itself.
Another strength lies in its memory and context awareness. Most browsers rely on bookmarks and history to help users pick up where they left off. Comet, however, remembers what you were researching, even across different sessions, and can continue assisting you without forcing you to repeat steps. This allows a smoother workflow for people working on projects over days or weeks. At the same time, since it is based on Chromium, Comet remains compatible with existing Chrome extensions and settings, so adopting it does not mean abandoning familiar tools.
Although the browser itself is free for everyone now, Perplexity has introduced a premium tier called Comet Plus. For five dollars a month, users gain access to curated news content and enhanced AI capabilities. This freemium model allows anyone to try Comet at no cost while offering a path for more advanced features for those willing to pay.
The Promise of Agentic Browsing
What Comet represents is not just a new browser but a new way of thinking about how we interact with the web. Traditional browsing is a manual process: you type queries into a search bar, scan through dozens of links, open tab after tab, compare sources, and slowly piece together the information you need. It is a process of micro-decisions and repeated actions. Agentic browsing changes the paradigm by shifting much of that effort onto the AI. You are no longer the operator carefully managing every click; instead, you become the director who gives instructions at a higher level.
Imagine being a student facing an overwhelming number of research papers. Instead of reading each one individually, you could instruct Comet to read them all and provide a comparative summary. Picture yourself planning a trip where, instead of juggling flight aggregators, hotel sites, and review platforms, you tell Comet your budget and destination and let it assemble a draft itinerary. Even in something as routine as shopping for a laptop, you might ask Comet to compare models and highlight the best option for your needs. In each case, the human sets the goal, and the AI performs the legwork. This shift could save enormous amounts of time while reducing the cognitive load that comes with today’s fragmented browsing.
Risks and Concerns Users Should Keep in Mind
Of course, handing so much responsibility to a browser raises serious questions. Security experts have already warned that Comet is vulnerable to prompt injection attacks. These are situations where malicious instructions are hidden within the content of a web page. If Comet’s AI reads those hidden prompts, it might follow them without realizing they are harmful, potentially tricking it into making fake purchases or exposing sensitive data.
There is also the issue of phishing. Because Comet automates navigation and transactions, it may be more easily fooled by fake websites than a cautious human who notices small red flags. In some security audits, Comet was tricked into executing fraudulent purchases on scam websites. While Perplexity is working on improving safeguards, the risk highlights the challenges of giving an AI system the power to act rather than simply observe.
Another concern is human behavior. The more capable Comet becomes, the more users may begin to overtrust it. If you assume the AI is always correct, you may stop double-checking information or reviewing transactions, which could lead to costly mistakes. On top of that, performance issues like lag or incomplete results can still arise, reminding us that the technology is far from flawless. And beyond technical concerns, there are also ethical and business implications. Publishers and media outlets worry that browsers like Comet, which summarize content, may reduce traffic to original sources, raising questions about fair use and compensation.
The Bigger Picture: What Comet Means for the Future of Browsing
Despite the risks, the launch of Comet marks a turning point in how we think about the internet. Browsers have long been passive tools that display content, but with Comet, the browser becomes an active participant in our online activities. This shift could reshape the competitive landscape. Google has built its empire on search, but if agentic browsers become the norm, the way people access information could bypass traditional search results altogether. Other companies, including Brave and Opera, are already experimenting with their own AI-driven features, which suggests we may be entering a new browser war centered around artificial intelligence.
Perplexity’s decision to make Comet free for everyone is also a strategic move. By lowering the barrier to entry, the company can quickly grow its user base and pressure competitors to respond. At the same time, Perplexity is exploring partnerships with smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Comet on devices, which could accelerate adoption even further, especially in markets where mobile browsing dominates.
The future of browsing will likely be shaped by how well agentic systems like Comet balance power with safety. If Perplexity can strengthen its defenses against prompt injections and phishing, and if it can win the trust of both users and content creators, Comet could establish itself as a dominant force in this next generation of the web.
Final Thoughts
Comet is more than just another browser; it is an ambitious attempt to reimagine how humans and machines work together to navigate the internet. By embedding artificial intelligence directly into the browsing experience, it promises to take on the repetitive tasks of searching, filtering, and comparing, allowing users to focus on higher-level goals. At the same time, it brings with it new challenges around security, reliability, and trust that cannot be ignored. Whether Comet becomes a mainstream success or remains a niche experiment will depend on how well it addresses these issues. But one thing is clear: the age of agentic browsing has begun, and Comet is at the forefront of this new era.