The AI search startup Perplexity is making its new “Comet” browser available to everyone for free, a significant move as it competes with giants like Google Chrome and a wave of new AI-powered browsers. The company also launched a powerful new “background assistant” for its paying subscribers.
Comet was first launched three months ago, but it was only available to users on Perplexity’s expensive $200-a-month Max plan. Since then, the company says “millions” of people have signed up for the waitlist. The browser’s main feature is a helpful AI “sidecar” that follows you as you browse, ready to answer questions, summarize articles, or even navigate websites on your behalf.
By making Comet free, Perplexity aims to put its AI tools into the hands of many more people. The company is facing intense competition, with a new AI browser from OpenAI also expected to launch soon. For its paying subscribers, Perplexity is rolling out an even more powerful tool: a “background assistant.” A company spokesperson described it as “a team of assistants working for you.”
You can give the assistant a list of tasks—such as sending an email, finding the cheapest concert tickets, and booking a flight—and it will work on them in the background while you attend to other things. You can then track its progress from a central “mission control” dashboard. This new assistant can even connect with other apps on your computer, making it a true digital helper.
