- Perplexity’s Comet browser will use AI agents to handle tasks like booking hotels and shopping.
- It avoids app limits, especially on iOS, by working through a browser for better control.
- CEO Aravind Srinivasan sees it as a low-cost digital assistant, but full features will take time.
Perplexity AI, led by CEO Aravind Srinivasan, is building a new browser called Comet to make online tasks easier with AI agents. Last month, the company shared plans to create a tool that acts like a personal helper—booking hotels, buying things, or filling out forms—without needing separate apps. Srinivasan says the big idea is to eventually build an operating system where AI can do almost everything, but for now, a browser is the best way to start because it skips around strict rules that apps face, especially on iOS.
On iOS, apps can’t talk to each other freely because of tight security, which limits what AI can do. Comet fixes this by running inside a browser, letting AI agents move across websites and apps smoothly. At the Upfront Summit, Srinivasan explained they’re working on simple stuff first—like shopping without typing your credit card or address every time. This focus on cutting out annoying steps is what drives Perplexity’s plan, aiming to save people time and hassle online.
Srinivasan keeps it real, though—he doesn’t think these smart AI helpers will be perfect by 2025. “Be skeptical of anyone saying agents will work next year,” he warned. Still, he’s excited about Comet becoming a budget-friendly digital assistant. While a real personal assistant might cost $100,000 to $200,000 a year, Comet could offer most of that help for way less. It’s a big dream to make life simpler, and Perplexity is betting a browser is the key to unlocking it step by step.
