Perplexity AI announced on Wednesday that its new browser, Comet, is now available to users worldwide, and notably, it is being offered free of charge, despite its previous subscription cost of $200 per month. Initially launched in July for Perplexity Max subscribers, Comet is more than just a web browser; it positions itself as a personal AI assistant capable of managing tabs, composing emails, shopping, and more. The demand for Comet has been immense, with a waitlist reportedly numbering in the millions. By removing the subscription fee, Perplexity aims to accelerate Comet’s growth and compete against major players like Google, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
This launch comes at a crucial time when tech giants are striving to integrate AI into web browsing. Recently, Google announced its Gemini feature for Chrome, while Anthropic and OpenAI introduced their own AI agents. Perplexity gained attention in August for its $34.5 billion hostile takeover related to its AI browser. The company is recognized for its innovative AI browser, which delivers direct answers alongside links to original sources. However, it has faced challenges with publishers due to content scraping without proper attribution, leading the company to pledge in 2024 to share a portion of its revenue with them.
The Comet browser continues to offer access to premium content from major outlets like CNN, Condé Nast, The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Fortune, Le Monde, and Le Figaro. Looking ahead, Perplexity plans to introduce two new features: a mobile version of Comet and a Background Assistant that will enable users to multitask in the background. By eliminating the paywall, Perplexity has made Comet accessible to a broader audience.