AI-Powered Browser Comet: Perplexitys Bold Challenge to Chrome on Smartphones

Nvidia-backed startup Perplexity is in discussions with mobile device manufacturers to have its new Comet browser pre-installed on smartphones. This was revealed by CEO Aravind Srinivasan in an interview with Reuters.

This move could significantly enhance the reach of the AI search engine, as users often default to using pre-installed browsers. However, Srinivasan mentioned that convincing mobile device creators is challenging.

After stabilizing the desktop version of Comet, which is designed for several hundred thousand users, Perplexity aims to target an audience in the «tens or hundreds of millions» next year.

In July, the company launched its own web browser called Comet. A notable feature of this tool is its integrated AI search system, which summarizes search results.

The application enables users to ask questions related to personal data and perform tasks such as scheduling meetings, summarizing webpage content, and more.

Meanwhile, OpenAI plans to release its AI-powered web browser in the coming weeks. Rather than simply navigating to websites, certain actions will be executed directly in a ChatGPT-like interface.

The efforts of this startup highlight a broader industry trend towards developing web browsers with agent-based AI functionalities that handle routine tasks for users, like booking hotels or purchasing plane tickets.

According to Statcounter, last month Chrome accounted for about 70% of mobile traffic, while Apple’s Safari and Samsung’s browser comprised an additional 24%.

It is worth noting that in April, the number of search queries in Safari dropped for the first time. This decline is attributed to the rising popularity of AI chatbots, as more people seek assistance from them instead of relying on traditional internet searches.