Post by : Badri Ariffin

Perplexity CEO Arvind Srinivas has announced the Comet AI Browser, signalling the company’s move into a space long dominated by Google. In a post on X, Srinivas warned that entrusting the internet entirely to one company posed risks, framing Comet as an intelligent alternative that preserves familiar browsing habits.

Built on the Chromium engine, Comet accepts Chrome extensions and imports bookmarks so users can transition easily. Its AI-powered sidebar can condense long articles, draft messages, help manage calendars and perform on-the-fly fact checks. The browser also includes features for organizing workspaces, generating content and delivering tailored recommendations to boost productivity.

The launch follows Perplexity’s high-profile $34.5 billion bid to acquire Chrome from Google — a figure that far exceeded Perplexity’s roughly $18 billion valuation. The proposal pledged to keep Chromium open-source, respect default search choices and commit $3 billion in investments over two years, arriving as the US Department of Justice increased pressure on Google over antitrust concerns.

At present, Comet is available to Perplexity Pro subscribers in India on Windows and macOS. Android pre-orders are open and an iOS release is anticipated soon. To mark the rollout, Perplexity has teamed up with Bharti Airtel to offer new users a complimentary one-year Pro subscription.

With Comet, Perplexity aims to challenge Google’s market position while reshaping how AI enhances everyday web browsing — providing a more personalised, assistive experience for users.