Comet arrives at a moment when the web feels both overwhelming and indispensable. Tabs multiply, research fragments, and even simple tasks can demand dozens of clicks. Built by Perplexity AI and released publicly in mid-2025, Comet proposes a different relationship with the internet. Instead of treating the browser as a neutral window to pages, it treats it as an intelligent assistant that can read, reason, and act across the web.
Within the first moments of use, Comet signals its ambition. Search does not return a familiar stack of blue links. It returns synthesized answers. Commands are not typed into forms or menus but spoken in natural language. Users can ask the browser to summarize an article, compare products, or help plan a trip, and Comet attempts to complete the task rather than simply point the way. For people who live in research, writing, development, or planning tools, this promise is compelling.
Yet Comet is not only a productivity experiment. It is also a test of trust. By design, an AI-native browser must see more of what the user is doing to be helpful. It must understand tabs, context, and sometimes intent. That requirement reshapes long-standing assumptions about privacy, security, and control in browsers. Comet’s rise has therefore sparked both enthusiasm and caution, with early adopters praising its speed and critics warning about new vulnerabilities.
This article examines what Comet is, what it is best for, and what trade-offs it introduces. It draws on known features, documented incidents, and user-reported behavior to place Comet within the broader evolution of the modern web browser.
What Comet Is
At its foundation, Comet is a Chromium-based browser. It shares the same underlying engine as Chrome and Edge, which means compatibility with most modern websites and web standards. What differentiates it is not the engine but the interface layered on top. Perplexity’s AI is not an optional extension. It is part of the browser’s core logic.
Comet introduces an always-available assistant that can read the content of open pages, track context across tabs, and respond to direct instructions. The browser is designed around conversation. Users can highlight text and ask questions about it, request summaries of long documents, or instruct the browser to perform multi-step actions such as comparing options across multiple sites.
This approach reflects what Perplexity calls an agentic model. The browser is not limited to answering questions. It attempts to act on behalf of the user. In practice, this means navigating sites, opening and closing tabs, organizing information, and in some cases initiating transactions. While these actions are still bounded by user permissions, the intent is clear. Comet aims to reduce the gap between intent and execution.
Read: perplexity comet AI Browser Explained
How Comet Changes Search
Search is the clearest place where Comet breaks from tradition. Instead of presenting ranked links, Comet offers synthesized answers generated from live web sources. The assistant explains its reasoning and, in many cases, provides citations that link back to original material. For users accustomed to scanning pages of results, this feels like a shift from searching to asking.
This model has advantages. It reduces the time spent jumping between tabs and evaluating sources. It also supports follow-up questions in context, allowing users to refine their understanding without restarting a query. For research and fact-checking, this can feel closer to working with a knowledgeable collaborator than a search engine.
There are limitations. Synthesized answers rely on the quality and interpretation of sources. While Comet is designed to reduce hallucinations by grounding responses in real web content, it still depends on AI judgment. Users who require absolute source fidelity may prefer to verify conclusions manually.
Agentic Browsing and Automation
Comet’s most distinctive promise lies in automation. Users can issue commands such as finding products under a certain price, comparing reviews, or summarizing inbox messages. The browser then attempts to complete the workflow across multiple sites and tabs.
This capability is especially attractive to power users. Researchers can collect and summarize information across dozens of pages. Developers can scan documentation and extract key points. Planners can organize travel or event details without juggling spreadsheets and bookmarks.
The experience is not always seamless. Early adopters report that some complex tasks are only partially completed or require clarification. Agentic browsing remains an emerging capability. Still, even partial automation can significantly reduce cognitive load when managing dense information.
Comet and Tab Management
Tab overload is a familiar problem. Comet addresses it by treating tabs as part of a shared context rather than isolated pages. The assistant can group tabs by topic, summarize what is open, and help users return to previous lines of inquiry.
This approach reframes browsing sessions as workspaces. Instead of remembering which tab held a key detail, users can ask the assistant to recall or summarize it. For long research sessions, this reduces friction and helps maintain focus.
Users who prefer manual control may find this intrusive at first. Comet assumes a level of automation that not everyone wants. The browser’s settings allow users to limit or disable certain behaviors, but the default experience is unapologetically AI-forward.
Privacy in an AI-Native Browser
Privacy is where Comet’s ambitions face their hardest test. To function as designed, the assistant needs access to browsing data, open tabs, and search queries. Comet’s privacy notice acknowledges this, explaining that such data powers AI features and recommendations.
Comet offers multiple privacy modes that adjust how much data is shared and stored. Users can limit personalization, disable certain data collection features, and delete stored information from settings. An Incognito Mode prevents the browser from storing history or download records for that session.
The trade-off is clear. Compared with privacy-hardened browsers like Brave or Firefox, Comet collects more contextual data by default. That does not mean it sells personal information. According to its stated policies, it does not. But it does mean users must actively manage settings if they handle sensitive or confidential work.
Privacy Modes Overview
| Mode | Purpose | Typical Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Full AI context and personalization | Everyday research and browsing |
| Restricted | Limited context sharing | Semi-sensitive work |
| Incognito | No stored history or downloads | Temporary private sessions |
Security Risks and Fixes
Security researchers have raised concerns specific to AI-native browsers. In mid-2025, a serious vulnerability was identified in Comet where malicious web content could manipulate the assistant into exposing data from other tabs, including emails and saved credentials. The issue stemmed from prompt injection techniques that exploited the assistant’s authority.
Perplexity addressed this vulnerability with patches rolled out by September 2025. Additional safeguards were added to limit cross-tab access and filter invisible or hidden content that could be read by the assistant’s optical character recognition features.
These incidents highlight a broader challenge. When a browser can act across tabs and accounts, the consequences of a security flaw are amplified. Traditional browsers isolate pages more strictly. Agentic browsers must invent new forms of isolation and permission control.
How Comet Compares to Other Browsers
Comet’s strengths and weaknesses become clearer when placed alongside familiar alternatives.
Browser Comparison
| Browser | AI Integration | Privacy Focus | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Extensions only | Moderate | General browsing |
| Edge | Integrated assistants | Moderate | Office workflows |
| Brave | Minimal AI | High | Privacy and anonymity |
| Firefox | Optional AI | High | Customization |
| Comet | Core AI architecture | Moderate to low | Research and automation |
Comet is not trying to replace every browser. It targets users who value speed, synthesis, and automation over maximum anonymity. For those users, the trade-off may be acceptable. For others, especially journalists or activists working with sensitive material, it may not be.
What Comet Is Best For
Comet shines in environments where information density is high and time is scarce. Researchers benefit from synthesized answers and contextual summaries. Students can break down complex readings and ask follow-up questions without leaving the page. Professionals juggling multiple tasks can offload routine comparisons and organization to the assistant.
It is also strong for fact-checking. By pulling from live sources and showing citations, Comet helps users trace claims back to original material. This reduces, but does not eliminate, the risk of AI-generated errors.
Where Comet is less effective is in situations that demand strict privacy or minimal data sharing. It is also not ideal for users who prefer complete manual control over browsing behavior. The browser assumes a willingness to collaborate with AI.
Practical Advice for Users
Using Comet responsibly requires awareness. Users should explore privacy settings early and choose modes that match their risk tolerance. Sensitive accounts such as banking or confidential email should be approached cautiously, especially when granting the assistant broad access.
Keeping the browser updated is essential. Many of the most serious vulnerabilities were addressed through patches. Like any evolving platform, Comet’s safety depends on ongoing maintenance.
Takeaways
• Comet is built around AI as a core browsing layer, not an add-on
• It replaces link-based search with synthesized answers and context
• Agentic browsing can automate research and planning tasks
• Privacy requires active management due to increased data use
• Security risks are higher but have been addressed through updates
• Best suited for power users and research-heavy workflows
Conclusion
Comet represents a turning point in browser design. By embedding AI deeply into the browsing experience, it challenges decades of assumptions about how people interact with the web. For many users, especially those overwhelmed by information, this approach feels liberating. Tasks that once required patience and repetition can now be delegated to an assistant that understands context and intent.
At the same time, Comet’s design forces a reckoning with trade-offs. Intelligence requires data. Agency introduces risk. The browser’s success will depend on whether users feel the benefits outweigh the costs and whether developers can continue to harden its defenses without dulling its usefulness.
Comet is not the future of browsing for everyone. But it offers a glimpse of what that future might look like. A web where asking replaces searching, and where browsers do not just show information but help act on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Comet free to use?
Yes. Comet is available without charge, with optional paid tiers offering additional features and capacity.
Does Comet replace search engines?
Comet still relies on the web but changes how results are presented, favoring synthesized answers over link lists.
Is Comet safe for sensitive work?
It can be, if privacy settings are adjusted carefully, but it is not as privacy-focused as some alternatives.
Can Comet automate purchases or bookings?
It can assist with comparisons and initiate actions, but users should review steps carefully before completion.
Who benefits most from Comet?
Researchers, students, and professionals managing complex information gain the most from its features.
