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Perplexity’s new AI-powered browser, Comet, could potentially change how people use internet browsers. Intended for more complex online tasks, such as flight bookings and shopping, Comet allows users to type out commands or prompts and automatically execute them with its highly trained AI.
After a successful desktop debut, Comet has begun its early invite rollout for Android users. CEO Aravind Srinivas announced this development on X, formerly known as Twitter. While the desktop version was initially invite-restricted, it is now free to download.
In the post, Srinivas explained how invitations for early access to Android will be selected. “It all comes down to your Perplexity Android usage and Pro/Max user status!” he said. This means that paid subscribers who use Perplexity's services on Android more frequently will receive the invites first.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Comet Android early invites are going out. If you want to maximize your chances for early access and shaping how the future of mobile browsing looks like - it all comes down to your Perplexity Android usage and Pro/Max user status! More invites will go out soon.
The staged rollout follows the company’s earlier strategy for desktop access, wherein Perplexity managed server loads and user feedback with ease.
Srinivas’ recent and rather audacious assertion that “Comet has the potential to deprecate Android” has stirred ongoing debate in the tech community. His assertion projects a future where operating systems and standalone apps are mainly rendered obsolete, as AI performs every function through a single interface.
If implemented, such a shift would be a monumental disruption given Android’s dominance as the world’s largest mobile operating system. The complete realization of the Comet experience might enable users to manage nearly all digital interactions directly through AI, further blurring the boundaries between a browser and an operating system.
Also Read: Is Your Comet App Real? Perplexity Warns iPhone Users of Fake Version
The launch of Comet AI browser coincides with the onset of a new conflict between AI browsers. Not long ago, OpenAI introduced ChatGPT Atlas, while Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome are upgrading their platforms with top-of-the-line AI tools. Additionally, Perplexity previously received attention for a $34.5 billion proposal to acquire Google Chrome, a bold move indicating its aspirations.
Comet, like many contemporary browsers, is built on the open-source Chromium framework provided by Google, which is also the backbone for Chrome, Edge, and other major browsers. With Comet’s mobile rollout and Srinivas’s bold claim, Perplexity is obviously betting entirely on an AI-first future, one that will see a convergence of the browser and the operating system.
