After a months-long waitlist that attracted millions, Perplexity has officially released its Comet browser to the public, available now for free at perplexity.ai/comet.

The company said user demand far outpaced its early release cadence, calling Comet “the most sought-after AI product of the year.” In its limited release, Perplexity observed users asking 6–18 times more questions within a single day of using Comet compared to standard search, reflecting how the platform encourages curiosity-driven browsing.

“Suddenly, asking new questions is easier, the delightful default mode of internet use,” the company wrote. “We learned: the internet is better on Comet.”

The Comet Assistant is at the heart of Perplexity’s new browser. It helps with everyday activities like research, communication, coding, shopping, and other online tasks. Every time you open a new tab, the Comet Assistant is ready to help with that task, keeping each session separate.

Unlike traditional chatbots that lock you into long conversations, the Comet Assistant is designed to be more practical and action-focused. Each tab can act as both a search tool and a workspace, combining real-time browsing with AI-powered answers and task support.

Building on the browser assistant, Perplexity has introduced Background Assistants — AI helpers that can take care of tasks for you in the background while you focus on something else. Instead of waiting for responses in a chat window, these assistants keep working on your to-do list automatically, finishing jobs while you move on.

Earlier, the company also launched an Email Assistant (currently available to Max subscribers). You can simply cc the assistant on any email thread, and it will handle scheduling, draft replies, or other inbox tasks. Together, the Email Assistant and Background Assistants show how Perplexity is moving beyond simple chatbots to create AI tools that work more like teammates than messengers.

So far, Comet has only been available on desktop. Now, Perplexity is preparing to launch a mobile version of the browser, designed specifically for phones.

The company says the mobile app will cut out clutter like ads and outdated app layouts, offering a cleaner experience where your AI assistant is built right in. With voice technology at the center, you’ll be able to talk to the assistant naturally, making it easier to get answers or complete tasks on the go.

Technology alone isn’t enough to make the internet better — the quality of what people read and watch matters just as much. To support that, Perplexity has launched Comet Plus, a program that brings trusted publishers directly into the Comet experience.

The first group of Comet Plus publishers includes well-known and reputable news organizations. Instead of relying on the traditional ad-driven model of the web, which often pushes users into endless click funnels, Comet Plus is designed to make high-quality reporting easier to find and read inside the browser.

Q: What is the Comet browser?
A: Comet is an AI-first web browser developed by Perplexity, combining browsing, search, and task completion with integrated AI assistants.

Q: How is Comet different from traditional browsers?
A: Every new tab includes a Comet Assistant that can research, code, shop, and perform tasks, while Background Assistants work asynchronously to handle ongoing to-dos.

Q: Is Comet free?
A: Yes, the Comet browser is now publicly available for free at perplexity.ai/comet.

Q: Does Comet work on mobile?
A: Comet for mobile is in preview, featuring voice-enabled AI assistants designed for phones.

Q: What is Comet Plus?
A: Comet Plus is a publisher program that integrates reputable journalism into Comet, offering a higher-quality alternative to ad-driven web content.

The launch of Comet isn’t just another browser release — it’s a signal of how quickly the internet itself may change when AI becomes part of the foundation, not just an add-on. By putting the Comet Assistant in every tab, Perplexity is reframing how people search, research, and complete tasks online.

The introduction of Background Assistants points to a larger shift: instead of one chatbot answering questions, users may soon rely on teams of AI helpers that quietly handle tasks across work, email, shopping, and research. This could reshape how productivity software is designed and how people balance their digital workload.

The debut of Comet Plus adds another layer of implication. If successful, it challenges the advertising-driven model of the internet, offering an alternative where high-quality journalism is supported inside the browsing experience itself. That shift could influence how publishers fund their work and how readers consume information, potentially moving the web away from endless click funnels.

Perhaps most strikingly, all of this power is being offered free of charge. For users, that lowers the barrier to trying an AI-first browser and could speed adoption dramatically. For competitors, it raises the stakes: traditional browsers and search platforms will need to justify their models in a market where advanced AI assistants and ad-free experiences are being given away at no cost.

For consumers, the impact is practical: a cleaner, faster, and more focused way to use the internet with AI support built in. For competitors, it accelerates the race to make browsing smarter and less cluttered.

Ultimately, the release suggests that the future of the web may not be shaped by search engines and ads, but by AI-first tools that turn curiosity into action — and, for now, at no cost to users.

Editor’s Note: This article was created by Alicia Shapiro, CMO of AiNews.com, with writing, image, and idea-generation support from ChatGPT, an AI assistant. However, the final perspective and editorial choices are solely Alicia Shapiro’s. Special thanks to ChatGPT for assistance with research and editorial support in crafting this article.