Perplexity Launches Comet Browser: A Glimpse Into the Future of AI-Powered Browsing
The search and browsing experience is changing fast. Perplexity, known for its AI search engine, just released its own web browser called Comet—and it’s more than just a browser. It integrates an AI assistant that can search, click through pages, and even attempt tasks like making restaurant reservations. But how well does it actually work?
What Is Perplexity’s Comet Browser?
Comet is an AI-powered web browser that blends traditional browsing with real-time agent capabilities. Unlike standard search engines, Comet doesn’t just return results—it can act on them.
It runs automated searches.
It clicks through dropdowns, forms, and buttons for you.
It can attempt real-world tasks like booking a restaurant table or building an itinerary.
In short, it’s an AI agent embedded directly in your browsing experience.
Real-World Test: Booking a Restaurant Reservation
To see how effective Comet is, we tested it with a common task: making a dinner reservation in Nashville.
Speed: Comet found availability faster than ChatGPT’s agent.
Accuracy: It located a table at Husk Nashville, offering the closest available time to the request.
Process: It displayed step-by-step actions, clicking through booking platforms like Resy.
While not perfect—it couldn’t secure the exact requested time—it came surprisingly close and provided multiple options.
How Does It Compare to ChatGPT Agents?
OpenAI’s agent can also perform actions like reservations but is often slower and requires credit card entry before completing bookings. In one test, a restaurant was successfully reserved even without entering payment information, showing these tools are still in early, inconsistent stages.
Comet, on the other hand, shows more promise with faster task completion and smoother navigation.
The Big Question: Trust and Security
As powerful as AI agents are, one major concern remains—trusting them with sensitive data.
Would you feel comfortable letting an AI agent use your credit card?
What if the agent books the wrong flight or charges a cancellation fee?
How will disputes with credit card companies work if “the AI did it”?
Until safeguards are in place, the safest approach may be allowing AI agents to prepare tasks (like finding restaurants, building itineraries, or suggesting activities) and letting humans finalize purchases.
Beyond Reservations: What Else Can Comet Do?
The potential goes far beyond dining. Comet can:
Build full travel itineraries in seconds.
Recommend museums, tours, and restaurants with mapped-out schedules.
Organize tasks across multiple browser tabs for productivity.
While current results feel a bit rushed and lack personalization (such as budget considerations or downtime requests), the promise is clear: AI browsing agents could one day handle the “busywork” of online life.
Final Thoughts
Perplexity’s Comet browser is still new, but it’s a major step forward for AI-assisted web navigation. Today, it works best as a fast research and planning companion. In the future, with more personalization and secure payment integration, it could become a true hands-free online assistant.
For now, it’s worth experimenting with—but keep your credit card out of reach.
