Perplexity’s Comet AI Browser Wants to Dethrone Chrome on Your Phone

For years, Google Chrome has been the undisputed king of browsers. It dominates with an iron fist in both the desktop and mobile segments. But a new challenger, Perplexity AI, backed by big names like Nvidia and Jeff Bezos, is looking to shake things up. The company has already reached deals with Android brands in recent years. Now, Perplexity AI is reportedly in talks with phone manufacturers to pre-install its new Comet browser directly onto devices.

Perplexity is known for its AI-powered chatbot, similar to ChatGPT, Gemini, and the like. The company promotes it as an AI-powered search engine, providing direct answers rather than just links. Recently, the company launched Comet, a browser with deeply integrated AI. The tool isn’t yet available to everyone; there’s a waiting list.

Perplexity’s Comet AI-powered browser is coming to phones to challenge Chrome

Now, its CEO, Aravind Srinivas, confirms the keys to the company’s strategy. First, Perplexity’s Comet browser will receive a version for phones. Then, the idea is simple: pre-installation on Android devices. Users tend to stick with the browser that comes pre-loaded on their device. By getting Comet onto millions of new phones, Perplexity hopes to gain widespread adoption for its AI tools.

Srinivas acknowledges that convincing mobile manufacturers to switch from Chrome as the default browser is “not easy.” This is especially true given the ingrained habit of users sticking with pre-installed apps. Google‘s payments for integrating its tools are another factor to take into account. However, the potential rewards are immense. Perplexity hopes to reach “tens to hundreds of millions” of users next year as it refines its browser.

What can Comet do?

So, what makes Comet special? Currently in beta for desktops, Comet integrates Perplexity’s AI directly into the Browse experience. This means users can do more than just search. They can ask questions about their personal data, like emails or browse history, get webpages summarized, or even perform tasks such as scheduling meetings, all with minimal human intervention. This reflects a broader industry trend towards “agentic AI” browsers, which are designed to make decisions and complete tasks autonomously.

The stakes are high. Google Chrome currently commands about 70% of the mobile browser market. While Perplexity has reportedly been in talks with giants like Samsung and Apple to integrate its AI search, pre-installing its own browser is a more direct and aggressive move. It sets the stage for a compelling new chapter in the competition for your smartphone’s browser.