Perplexity Announces Comet: A New AI-Powered Web Browser

AI-driven search engine Perplexity is expanding beyond search, revealing plans for a new web browser called Comet. While details remain scarce, the company launched a sign-up list for the browser on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, signaling that development is underway.

“Just like Perplexity reinvented search, we’re also reinventing the browser,” a Perplexity spokesperson told TechCrunch via email. However, the company has yet to disclose a release date or specific features.

However, users can join the waitlist here.

A Crowded Browser Market

Comet enters a highly competitive landscape, facing industry leaders like Google Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox, alongside newer AI-powered browsers such as The Browser Company’s upcoming Dia. Many modern browsers now integrate AI features similar to Perplexity’s search engine, making differentiation a key challenge. Likewise, in search, Perplexity competes not only with Google and Bing but also with privacy-focused alternatives like DuckDuckGo and Brave Search, which have built dedicated user bases despite the dominance of larger players.

Perplexity may be using its growing user base to drive adoption. In October 2024, Perplexity reported handling approximately 100 million search queries per week—a major milestone in its rapid growth. As the company expands its monetization efforts through ads and premium services, its AI-powered search engine continues to gain traction.

Perplexity’s Rapid Growth and Legal Challenges

Founded in 2022, Perplexity has raised over $500 million in venture capital, reportedly reaching a $9 billion valuation. In addition to Comet, Perplexity has been rapidly expanding its product lineup:

• February 2025: Launched a deep research tool to compete with OpenAI, Google, and xAI.

• January 2025: Released an AI-powered Android assistant and an API for AI search.

However, the company faces mounting legal scrutiny. News Corp's Dow Jones, and the New York Post have sued Perplexity, alleging it scrapes and republishes their content without permission—a claim the startup denies. In October 2024, The New York Times issued a cease-and-desist notice over similar concerns.

Perplexity maintains that it respects publisher content and offers a revenue-sharing program for news outlets, though disputes continue.

Looking Ahead

With Comet, Perplexity aims to redefine the browsing experience, but it remains to be seen how it will differentiate itself from other AI-integrated browsers. Given the company’s rapid growth and funding, Comet could become a serious contender—provided Perplexity can navigate its ongoing legal challenges.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.