AI search firm Perplexity has introduced its Comet browser for Android devices today. The company initially rolled out this AI-focused browser for desktop users in July, featuring AI-driven search capabilities.
Most of the features available on the desktop version are now accessible on Android. Users have the option to set Perplexity as their primary search engine, reference tabs to pose questions to the assistant, and utilize voice mode to inquire about all open tabs. Additionally, the assistant is able to provide summaries of searches across multiple tabs.
According to Perplexity, the browser is capable of conducting research and making purchases for users, and you can monitor the actions taken by the Comet assistant. Furthermore, the Android release comes equipped with a built-in ad blocker.
Image Credits: Perplexity
Perplexity mentioned that in the near future, it plans to introduce additional functionalities to the app, such as a conversational agent capable of searching multiple websites, options to create shortcuts for the assistant to perform tasks quickly, and a comprehensive password manager.
Earlier this month, the company enhanced its Comet Assistant on desktop, enabling it to handle more advanced and time-consuming tasks, like transferring information from a website into a spreadsheet.
Although Perplexity has prioritized launching on Android, the company stated that an iOS version is also on the way. The focus on Android stems from the significant number of carriers and device manufacturers requesting the inclusion of Comet on their platforms. Despite this, Perplexity has not announced any formal partnerships.
Earlier this year, Perplexity collaborated with Motorola to have the app pre-installed on Motorola devices. However, it remains unclear whether this arrangement will include preloading the new Comet browser as well.
The AI browser sector has attracted attention from several companies. In addition to Perplexity, OpenAI, Opera, and The Browser Company—now under Atlassian—have all launched their own AI browsers, though these have primarily been desktop offerings. The Browser Company did release Arc Search for mobile last year, but the app has not seen major updates. Toward the end of last year, their focus shifted to a new browser called Dia, which currently lacks a mobile version.
These firms are working to challenge established browsers like Chrome and Safari by introducing AI-powered alternatives. However, cybersecurity professionals have expressed concerns about potential vulnerabilities in these AI agents. In October, Perplexity published a blog post acknowledging these issues, noting that new AI-driven attack methods may necessitate a complete overhaul of existing security strategies.
