AI search startup Perplexity has launched its first web browser, Comet, as part of its broader mission to compete directly with Google Search.

The browser, unveiled on Wednesday, is initially available to users on Perplexity’s $200-per-month Max plan and a limited group of invitees on a waitlist.

Comet integrates Perplexity’s core AI-powered search engine as the default, offering users AI-generated summaries of web results. It also introduces Comet Assistant, an AI agent designed to help users complete everyday digital tasks — such as summarizing emails and calendar events, managing tabs, and navigating websites.

Users can activate Comet Assistant through a collapsible side panel on any webpage, enabling real-time interaction with the content they’re viewing.

“This is not just a search tool — it’s the beginning of an operating system for the web,” said Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, who has called Comet central to the startup’s plan to bypass reliance on Google Chrome and become users’ default gateway to the internet.

The timing of the launch is strategic. Google has added its own AI tools to Chrome, including “AI Mode,” which closely resembles Perplexity’s offerings. Meanwhile, OpenAI and The Browser Company have also been exploring or releasing AI-enhanced browsing experiences.

While Comet enters a space dominated by Google Chrome and Apple Safari, Perplexity could gain traction through its rapidly growing user base. The company reported 780 million queries in May 2025, with over 20% month-on-month growth.

However, convincing users to switch browsers remains a major hurdle. “Becoming the default browser means infinite retention,” Srinivas said in June — but it may take more than AI features to lure users away from their established browsing habits.

With Comet, Perplexity is betting that utility, not just novelty, will win the future of search.