Perplexity, the AI search firm, introduced its Comet browser for Android today. The AI-driven browser initially launched on desktop in July, featuring AI-enhanced search capabilities.
The majority of the desktop version’s features are being incorporated into the Android app. Users have the option of setting Perplexity as their primary search tool and can tag tabs to pose inquiries to the AI assistant. Additionally, users can utilize voice commands to ask questions pertaining to all active tabs. The assistant is also capable of providing summaries of search results across multiple tabs.
According to Perplexity, the browser is also equipped to conduct research and shopping on the user’s behalf, allowing users to monitor the actions of the Comet assistant. Notably, the Android version includes an integrated ad blocker.
The company has stated that it plans to introduce additional functionalities to the app in the coming weeks, which will include a conversational AI capable of searching across different sites, the ability to create shortcuts for the assistant to perform quick actions, and a fully operational password management system.
Earlier this month, the Comet Assistant on desktop was updated to handle more complex and longer-running tasks efficiently, such as transferring data from a website into a spreadsheet.
Although Perplexity is initially launching on Android, the company has announced that an iOS version is also in development and will be released soon. Android was prioritized due to the numerous requests from carriers and OEMs to integrate Comet into their devices and platforms, according to the company. However, Perplexity did not announce any partnerships.
Earlier this year, the startup entered into a partnership with Motorola to have the app preloaded on their devices. However, Perplexity did not specify whether this agreement would be extended to include the pre-installation of the new Comet browser.
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The field of AI browsers has garnered significant interest from various companies. Besides Perplexity, entities like OpenAI, Opera, and The Browser Company (now under Atlassian’s ownership) have also unveiled their respective AI browsers. However, these have largely been desktop-focused releases. While The Browser Company launched Arc Search for mobile devices last year, the app has not seen substantial updates since then. Towards the end of last year, the company redirected its attention to a new browser project named Dia, which currently lacks a mobile iteration.
These firms are actively seeking to supplant established browsers like Chrome and Safari with AI-enhanced alternatives. However, security professionals have voiced concerns regarding potential vulnerabilities in AI agents that could present security risks. In October, Perplexity addressed these concerns in a blog post, acknowledging that the emergence of new attack methods facilitated by AI necessitates a fundamental rethinking of security protocols.
