- Comet integrates artificial intelligence into all browser features
- It offers a contextual assistant capable of automating workflows and searches.
- It stands out for its local privacy and compatibility with Chrome extensions.
In the world of web browsers, every so often a new feature emerges that promises to revolutionize the way we navigate the Internet. Comet, the AI-powered browser developed by Perplexity AI, is the latest big bet in this field, with the intention of becoming the ultimate companion for those looking for much more than opening tabs and searching for information.
The launch of Comet has generated enormous interest in the technology community and among more advanced users. Not only because it is a new Chromium-based browser, but also because its proposal is based on integrate AI transversally into all tasksIn this article, we'll explain in detail what Comet is, how it works, and how it differs from traditional browsers.
What is Comet, the Perplexity AI browser?
Comet is the first browser launched by Perplexity AI, a startup backed by big names in the tech sector such as Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and SoftBank. Its proposal breaks with traditional navigation and places the integrated artificial intelligence as a cornerstone of the whole experience.
It is not just about incorporating a conversational assistant, but about A tool designed to use AI to help you manage your entire digital workflow, from reading the news and managing emails to making informed decisions or automating everyday tasks.
Comet is currently in closed beta phase, available only to those who access by invitation or through the Perplexity Max subscription (at a relevant cost compared to the competition). It is available to Windows and macOS, and is expected to soon arrive on other platforms such as Android, iOS and Linux.
While many browsers have AI features added after the fact or extensions for certain tasks, Comet takes this approach to the extreme: all navigation, searching and management can be done in direct and natural dialogue with your assistant., Comet Assistant, which integrates into the sidebar and follows your context at all times.
Main features and functionalities of Comet
The first impression when you open Comet is its Chrome-like appearance, as it's based on Chromium, the same Google engine. This brings with it Extension support, bookmark synchronization, and a very familiar visual environment for most users. But what really sets it apart starts in the left sidebar, where the Comet Assistant, the AI agent capable of interacting in real time with everything you see and do in the browser.
What can you do with Comet that you can't with Chrome or other browsers? Here are its most advanced features:
- Instant summaries: Highlight a text, news story, or email and Comet summarizes it instantly. It can also extract key data from videos, forums, comments, or Reddit threads without you having to read everything manually.
- Agentic actions: Comet Assistant doesn't just explain things, can act for you: Open related links, book an appointment, compose an email based on what you see, compare product prices, or even reply to emails.
- Contextual searches: AI understands what you have open and can answer questions about the content, search for related concepts, provide context for what you've read before, or suggest further reading paths, all without leaving the current window.
- Workflow Automation: If you give him permissions, can interact with your calendar, email, or messaging apps, creating events, responding to messages, or managing tabs and processes on your behalf.
- Smart Tab Management: When you ask him to gather information from various sources, Comet opens the necessary tabs and manages them automatically., showing you the process and allowing you to intervene at any time.
- Contextual memory: The AI remembers what you've looked at in different tabs or previous sessions, allowing you to make comparisons, search for information read days before, or seamlessly link different topics.
- Full compatibility: When using Chromium, everything that works in Chrome also works here: websites, extensions, payment methods, and integration with Google accounts, although the default search engine is Perplexity Search (you can change it, although it requires a few extra clicks).
A New Approach: AI-Based Navigation and Thinking Out Loud
The big difference compared to classic browsers is not only in the functions, but in the way of browsing. Comet encourages you to interact using natural language, as if your navigation were a continuous conversation, connecting tasks and questions without fragmenting the experience. The assistant can, for example, generate a tourist route on Google Maps, search for the best deal on a product, or help you find that article you read days ago but can't remember where it was.
Its goal is to reduce the chaos of unnecessary tabs and clicksInstead of having dozens of open windows, everything is integrated into a mental flow where AI suggests next steps, clarifies information, cross-references, or presents counterarguments on the topic at hand.
This bet makes the browser acts as a proactive agent, eliminating routine tasks and anticipating your information needs. For example, you can ask them to compose an email based on data from a product listing, or to compare reviews across different forums before making a purchase decision.
Privacy and data management: Is Comet safe?
One of the most sensitive issues when it comes to browsers with built-in AI is privacy. Comet has been designed to excel in this section:
- Browsing data is stored locally on your device by default: history, cookies, open tabs, permissions, extensions, passwords and payment methods, everything stays on your computer and is not systematically uploaded to external servers.
- Only in Explicit requests that require custom context (such as asking the AI to act on your behalf in an email or external manager), the necessary information is transmitted to Perplexity's servers. Even in these cases, the transmission is limited, and queries can be made in incognito mode or easily deleted from your history.
- Your data is not used to train models or shared with third parties.Comet prides itself on transparency, precision, and local control as part of its philosophy.
- The level of access you can give to the AI is configurable., but to use all the more advanced features, you'll need to grant permissions similar to those granted to Google, Microsoft, or Slack, something that may cause reluctance among ultra-conservative users regarding privacy.
As Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity, explained, one of the big challenges is for a truly useful digital assistant needs to understand some of the personal context and online activity, just like a human assistant does. But the difference is that here you explicitly choose how much you want to share data.
Advantages of Comet over Chrome and traditional browsers
- Full AI integration from the core: It's not just an add-on, but the heart of the browser. It's all about the assistant and the ability to simplify complex tasks with natural language.
- Automation and click reduction: Workflows like booking appointments, responding to emails, organizing tabs, or comparing offers are done in seconds and with less effort than ever before, without additional extensions.
- Conversational and contextual experience: Forget fragmented searches; here you can interact with the browser like an advanced chatbot, getting precise answers and taking action on the fly.
- Full compatibility with the Chromium ecosystem: You don't need to give up your extensions, favorites, or settings. The transition from Chrome is seamless for most users.
- advanced privacy: The default approach favors local storage and confidentiality, something highly valued in professional environments such as consulting firms, advisory services, and law firms.
Comet's weaknesses and pending challenges
- Learning curve and complexity: Taking advantage of the more advanced features requires some experience and familiarity with AI. Non-techie users may feel overwhelmed at first.
- Performance and resources: By having AI running continuously, Memory and CPU usage is higher than that of basic browsersOn less powerful computers, you may notice some slowness in some complex processes.
- Data access and permissions: The assistant requires extended access to operate at 100%, which may be uncomfortable for those concerned about personal data protection.
- Availability and price: For now, it is limited to Perplexity Max users ($200 per month) or those who receive an invitation. While a free version will be available in the future, it's currently not accessible to everyone.
- Access and update model: Early access to more powerful features is tied to payment and the more expensive subscription, positioning Comet as a professional tool rather than a direct, massive competitor to Chrome.
Access, download, and future of Comet
Currently, for Download and try Comet, you need to be on the waiting list or pay for the Perplexity Max subscription. The company has promised that There will be a free version later, although advanced AI features may be limited or require additional subscriptions (such as the Pro plan).
- It's expected to be available on more operating systems soon, but for now it's only available for Windows and macOS.
- The invitation-based and premium subscription deployment model serves as a test for professional environments before a mass rollout.
- Comet's future will depend on how the AI-powered browser ecosystem evolves, the openness of its features, and the balance between price, privacy, and utility for mainstream users.
Its arrival represents the integration of AI into the core of web browsing, providing an experience where every action can be requested in natural language, and artificial intelligence automates, suggests, and even anticipates your needs, reducing effort and fragmentation in navigation.
If you're looking for a tool that allows you to save time, manage information, and improve your digital productivity, Comet will likely become your go-to browser soon. Although its current accessibility and cost limit it to professional users, its innovation could force giants like Google to reinvent Chrome sooner than expected.
Editor specialized in technology and internet issues with more than ten years of experience in different digital media. I have worked as an editor and content creator for e-commerce, communication, online marketing and advertising companies. I have also written on economics, finance and other sectors websites. My work is also my passion. Now, through my articles in Tecnobits, I try to explore all the news and new opportunities that the world of technology offers us every day to improve our lives.