Generative AI search startup Perplexity AI, a competitor to Google LLC and OpenAI, has announced the development of an AI-powered web browser. The company first revealed this project on X and invited users to sign up for early access when the browser is released. Although no specific release date has been disclosed, Perplexity AI has mentioned that the browser will be named "Comet" and designed specifically for "proxy search," a clear reference to proxy AI.
Since its founding in 2022, Perplexity AI has been dedicated to creating a real-time information search application that provides users with the latest online data after their queries, similar to ChatGPT, rather than offering a list of links. With the introduction of Comet, Perplexity AI is set to enter the highly competitive web browser market, currently dominated by Google Chrome. The new browser will compete for market share with other major players like Microsoft's Edge, Mozilla's Firefox, and smaller operators such as Vivaldi Technologies and Opera Norway AS. It will also face competition from another AI-native web browser called Dia, developed by The Browser Company Inc., which is yet to be launched.
Dia, like Comet, aims to integrate various AI functionalities, allowing users to input natural language prompts into the search bar to find specific documents or web pages, create calendar events, or ask general questions, receiving explicit answers instead of link lists. While it remains uncertain whether Comet will offer similar features, Sid Sharma, an AI developer at Agora Labs Inc., suggests that Comet might represent users in executing tasks due to the mention of "proxy AI search."
According to Sharma, Perplexity AI's goal extends beyond rethinking search methods; it aims to transform how users interact with the internet, making it more dynamic, predictive, and intuitive. For instance, if users could navigate, research, and take actions entirely through voice commands, from answering questions to booking vacations, Comet would stand out. Sharma stated, "AI-driven web browsers are rapidly evolving, and Perplexity AI is taking action to challenge the giants in the field."
Perplexity AI appears to be targeting existing search engine users to expand its influence. However, the new browser may also serve as a tool to attract customers away from Google Search, given that it is unlikely to default to Google.
Most consumer AI tools can be categorized into three forms: general chatbots (like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic PBC's Claude), existing applications integrated with generative AI (such as Adobe Inc.'s Photoshop or Apple Inc.'s iOS), and applications aiming to reinvent existing categories (like AI-native code editors like Cursor IDE). Perplexity AI’s browser seems to belong to the latter category, aiming to rethink how people explore the web.
Recently, Perplexity AI has been expanding its product offerings. Earlier this month, it launched a new "deep dive" service aimed at competing with similar tools created by companies like Google, OpenAI, and xAI Corp. Last month, it introduced two new tools: an AI assistant for Android and an API for building AI applications that integrate its search capabilities. In December last year, Perplexity AI secured $500 million in funding at a $9 billion valuation, making significant strides toward challenging Google's dominance in internet search, processing over 100 million search queries weekly.
However, the company has faced numerous controversies, with many publishers accusing it of content theft in generating results. The New York Post and News Corp have filed lawsuits against Perplexity AI, while The New York Times reportedly sent a cease-and-desist letter in October last year. In response, the company claims it respects each publisher's content and has created revenue-sharing programs for those willing to collaborate rather than litigate.
