The Perplexity team has recently unveiled Comet, an innovative agentic browser designed to compete with industry leaders such as Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Brave. To participate in this new experience, users must either be a Perplexity Max subscriber or join the waitlist for early access. After gaining access about two weeks ago, I can confidently say that while Comet has potential, it still has some ground to cover before it becomes my preferred browser over Brave.
Understanding Comet
Comet is an agentic AI browser crafted by Perplexity, and it’s not the first of its kind; The Browser Company previously launched a similar concept with their browser, Dia. For those unfamiliar with these technologies, let’s dive deeper into what Comet offers.
This browser merges AI functionalities with traditional browsing, providing users with multiple capabilities beyond mere web surfing or AI interactions. Users can invoke the Perplexity assistant anytime while browsing, allowing it to execute tasks on their behalf.
While Comet is built on the Chromium framework, it goes beyond being simply a web browser enhanced with AI features. Instead, it’s engineered specifically to utilize AI for task automation and to streamline workflow efficiency.
At the heart of Comet’s design is an AI assistant positioned in a sidebar. This assistant interacts with any active webpage, enhancing its functionality. For instance, users can query about YouTube videos, analyze Google Docs, or summarize articles without switching tabs or losing context. Additionally, it can handle tasks ranging from scheduling appointments to making purchases and signing up for online services.
Impressive Features of the Comet Browser
Throughout my exploration of the Comet browser, I discovered several standout features that genuinely impressed me. The integrated AI assistant is undeniably the highlight, capable of managing tabs, calendars, emails, and even navigating various websites autonomously.
For instance, I asked it to compare keyboard prices across Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, and it performed the task effortlessly. It also efficiently managed routine activities like booking reservations, sending emails, or unsubscribing from unwanted newsletters.
Another valuable feature is its conversational search functionality, which delivers immediate answers, pulling from various sources and summarizing information efficiently—eliminating the need for me to sift through multiple websites. It even offers summaries for YouTube videos, articles, and full web pages, tailoring results to my ongoing activities.
Moreover, the browser’s ability to maintain contextual awareness across all open tabs is commendable. The surprisingly adept voice recognition feature also allows for seamless interaction, enabling me to communicate with it as if I were speaking to a person. Additionally, Comet supports all Chrome extensions and effortlessly imported my bookmarks and settings.
The user interface is elegantly designed, offering a distraction-free experience complemented by a built-in ad blocker, comprehensive privacy controls, and restricted modes for syncing sensitive information. The convenience of zero-click searches in the omnibox provides direct answers and personalized suggestions based on browsing patterns.
Limitations of Comet Compared to Brave and Other Traditional Browsers
Given the array of features I appreciated, one might wonder, “What’s holding Comet back?” Despite its strengths, I have realized that I can achieve similar tasks using existing AI tools within traditional browsers like Brave.
OpenAI has launched its own agentic mode, while Google has initiated development on a similar platform known as Project Mariner. Since I already subscribe to these services, transitioning to Comet might not provide enough benefits to justify the switch. Furthermore, I’ve observed that the outputs generated by specialized AI tools often surpass those from Comet.
Currently, Comet remains in its early stages. Although the concept of an agentic browser sounds promising, it can be somewhat cumbersome in real-world application. For example, the keyboard price comparison feature that I previously mentioned was inefficient, taking about five minutes to complete, whereas I could have executed the same query on Brave in a fraction of the time.
If you strip away the AI capabilities, Comet effectively resembles Google Chrome, merely presented with a fresh interface. Although this alone isn’t a dealbreaker, the browser raises significant privacy concerns.
Perplexity’s ambitions extend beyond merely competing with Google; they aim to rival it. As noted by CEO Aravind Srinivas during a recent TBPN podcast, their intention behind creating a browser is to gather extensive data on user activities for the purpose of selling premium advertisements.
In a subsequent Reddit AMA, he clarified that browsing data—including activity logs, technical details, extensions, and credentials—are stored locally on devices. However, the vague language on Comet’s privacy page raises red flags about user data safety.
This is where Brave outpaces Comet, as its core philosophy revolves around user data protection. Brave implements transparent policies that ensure browsing history, search queries, and personal information remain on the user’s device unless explicit consent for sharing is granted. The browser has a proven commitment to safeguarding user privacy, and its ad and tracker blocking capabilities operate seamlessly from the start.
If you’re considering alternatives to browsers like Brave or Chrome, numerous unique and specialized browsers offer compelling features worth exploring. For those uncertain where to begin, it might be beneficial to investigate some lesser-known browsers tailored for specific needs.
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