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Perplexity was one of the first companies to launch an AI-powered internet browser, but gaining access to the tool has been difficult without spending $200 per month for its top-end Max subscription. Now, that’s changing, and Comet is available for everyone.
Perplexity says Comet "has become the most sought-after AI product of the year, no matter how fast we release invites." It combines the company’s search-focused personal AI assistant with more traditional web browsing features into one tool.
You can now download the app to your desktop from Perplexity’s website. It's not yet available on Apple's macOS App Store or the Microsoft Store for Windows.
The brand plans to launch a mobile app soon, which will make Comet “available on any device, with a personal AI designed for your phone," it says. That suggests both an iPhone and Android version are in the works.
Other AI upgrades include Background Assistants, which "work for you simultaneously and asynchronously, so you can focus on what matters," Perplexity says. "In the background, your personal team of AI assistants eliminates any task on your to-do list. Background Assistants are a platform where your curiosity becomes productivity.”
That tool comes soon after Perplexity launched its new Email Assistant for Max subscribers. It’s an AI feature that allows you to carbon copy threads to automatically complete tasks, such as setting up meetings, researching topics, or drafting replies to emails.
The brand is also bringing curated news content to its Comet Plus users on Perplexity Pro or Max accounts. It works similarly to Apple News+ and costs $5 per month if you don't have a Perplexity subscription. The first list of publishing partners includes CNN, Conde Nast, Fortune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post.
Perplexity has reportedly spent 2025 bidding to buy rival tools like Brave and DuckDuckGo. It also offered Google $34.5 billion to buy Chrome, although that was likely a publicity stunt. (And Google no longer has to sell off its browser.)