Perplexity AI makes $200 Comet browser free worldwide

Perplexity AI has made its artificial intelligence-powered web browser Comet available worldwide for free, expanding access beyond its previous $200-per-month subscription model for Perplexity Max users. The move positions Perplexity to compete more aggressively with tech giants like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic in the rapidly evolving AI browser space, while potentially attracting millions of users who were previously on the waitlist.

What you should know: Comet functions as a comprehensive personal assistant that can handle multiple web-based tasks beyond traditional browsing.

• The browser can search the web, organize tabs, draft emails, shop online, and perform other productivity tasks using AI capabilities.
• Perplexity, an AI startup best known for its search engine, initially launched Comet in July exclusively for subscribers paying $200 monthly, building a waitlist of “millions” of people according to the company.
• The startup also offers Comet Plus, a subscription service providing access to content from “trusted publishers and journalists.”

The competitive landscape: Perplexity’s free release comes as major tech companies roll out their own AI browser solutions.

• Google integrated Gemini into its Chrome browser in September, while Anthropic announced a browser-based AI agent in August.
• OpenAI launched Operator in January, an agent that uses browsers to complete tasks for users.
• Perplexity made headlines in August with an unsolicited $34.5 billion bid for Google’s Chrome browser, signaling its aggressive expansion ambitions.

Publishing partnerships: The company has established revenue-sharing agreements with major media outlets following plagiarism accusations.

• Inaugural publishing partners include CNN, Condé Nast, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Fortune, Le Monde, and Le Figaro.
• This partnership model emerged after Perplexity faced criticism for allegedly plagiarizing content from media outlets in its AI-powered search results.

What’s coming next: Perplexity teased additional features to enhance Comet’s capabilities.

• A mobile version of Comet is in development to extend the browser’s reach across devices.
• Background Assistant will allow the browser to work on multiple tasks simultaneously and asynchronously, potentially increasing productivity for users.