Perplexity launched Comet, its browser with integrated AI assistants, and makes it available for free to everyone starting October 2, 2025. If you wonder what this changes in your day-to-day, here I explain it without technical jargon or hype. (perplexity.ai)
What Comet is and why it matters
Comet is, in essence, a browser built around curiosity: it integrates an AI assistant that browses with you, answers questions and performs tasks inside each tab. The company says the experience makes asking the default action, and during early access the number of questions per user rose between 6 and 18 times on the first day. That helps explain why demand was so high after the limited launch. (perplexity.ai)
If you’re someone who researches, works with information, or just wants less noise and clearer answers, Comet tries to change the web’s starting point: from hunting links to getting useful answers and actions right away. (perplexity.ai)
What's new
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Comet Assistant: an assistant per tab that can help with research, summaries, code, shopping and more while you browse. -
Email Assistant: an assistant designed for email (today available for Max subscribers) that you can copy into a thread so it manages drafts, scheduling and tasks from your inbox. (perplexity.ai) -
Background Assistants: assistants that work simultaneously and asynchronously on background tasks to take items off your to-do list. (perplexity.ai)
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Comet Plus: an initiative to incorporate reputable journalistic sources and improve the quality of the content that feeds the browser. The platform already lists its first participating outlets as part of that proposal. (perplexity.ai)
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Mobility and voice: Perplexity previews Comet for mobile and voice capabilities, thinking of a personal assistant that also lives on your phone. (perplexity.ai)
Practical examples
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Student: you search for bibliography, Comet summarizes articles, suggests follow-up questions and saves references without leaving the tab.
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Professional who works with data: the assistant helps you find quick explanations, code examples or compare sources without breaking your flow.
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Entrepreneur with an overflowing inbox: you copy the thread to the Email Assistant and get drafts, agenda suggestions and automated tasks when you return to the conversation.
These are concrete scenarios, not vague promises: the interface is designed to reduce friction and keep you in flow.
What it means for you (and what to watch closely)
A browser centered on assistants is interesting because it moves many interactions from apps and scattered tabs into an AI-guided experience. For you that can mean less time searching and more time creating.
But there are things to watch: the quality of sources (that’s why Comet Plus matters), how your data is handled and what control you have over background assistants. Perplexity emphasizes support for quality journalism and user control, but it’s always wise to review privacy policies and permissions before folding these tools into sensitive workflows. (perplexity.ai)
If you want to try it, Perplexity offers the download from its official page: download Comet. (perplexity.ai)
Final reflection
This isn’t just a new app: it’s an experiment about how we want the web to work with integrated AI. Would you prefer instant answers and assistants that act for you, or a more intermediary-free internet? Comet bets on the first, with concrete proposals like per-tab assistants, automated email and media partnerships.
As always, the best move is to try specific cases and decide whether this new flow makes you more productive or just adds a layer you’d rather control. The technology is already here; the question is how you’ll use it.
