Key Points
- AI search startup Perplexity is in talks with phone makers to pre-install its new Comet browser on their devices.
- The goal is to challenge Google’s dominance by becoming the default browser for new smartphone users.
- The Comet browser utilizes “agentic AI” to function as a personal assistant, capable of summarizing pages and scheduling meetings.
- This move is part of a larger tech trend, with competitors like OpenAI also developing similar AI browsers.
The Nvidia-backed AI search startup, Perplexity AI, is in talks with smartphone makers to pre-install its new AI-powered browser, Comet, on their devices. CEO Aravind Srinivas told Reuters that this move is a key part of their strategy to challenge Google’s dominance.
Getting a browser pre-installed on a phone is a huge advantage. Most users tend to stick with the browser that comes pre-installed on their device, such as Chrome or Safari. By becoming the default, Perplexity hopes to make its AI tools a daily habit for millions of people. Srinivas admitted it’s a tough challenge, saying, “It’s not easy to convince mobile OEMs to change the default browser to Comet from Chrome.”
Perplexity’s new browser, Comet, is currently in a testing phase on desktops. It integrates the company’s AI directly into the browsing experience. This allows it to act like a personal assistant, answering questions about your emails or calendar, summarizing web pages, or even scheduling meetings for you. The company aims to roll it out to millions of users next year.
This push reflects a wider trend in the tech industry toward creating “agentic AI” browsers that can perform complex tasks with little human guidance. OpenAI is also reportedly developing its own AI browser.
Perplexity is a serious contender in this space. The company recently completed a $500 million investment round, valuing it at $14 billion. It has powerful backers, including Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt.
