Perplexity Comet AI Browser Now Free - Background Assistant Added

Perplexity Launches Free Comet Browser and New Assistant Features

AI-focused search company Perplexity is now offering its Comet browser to all users globally, free of charge. This move is strategically designed to challenge established browsers and search engines in the market.

Furthermore, the company has introduced a new “background assistant” feature for its paid subscribers, enabling the handling of multiple tasks directly through the Comet browser.

Initial Launch and User Demand

Comet was initially released three months ago exclusively for subscribers of Perplexity’s $200-per-month Max plan.

Since then, a substantial number of users – numbering in the “millions” – have registered on the waitlist to gain access to the browser.

The core functionality of Comet centers around a sidecar assistant. This assistant accompanies users during their browsing sessions, providing assistance with answering questions related to the current webpage, summarizing content, and managing web interactions.

Competitive Landscape

Perplexity’s decision to make Comet freely available is a direct response to the competitive pressures from industry leaders like Google Chrome and emerging players such as The Browser Company’s Dia, an AI-powered browser.

This launch also precedes the anticipated release of an AI-powered browser from OpenAI.

To succeed in this environment, Perplexity must demonstrate the reliability and practical benefits of Comet’s agentic capabilities. Users need to experience tangible productivity improvements to justify switching from their current browsers.

Features for Free and Paid Users

Free users of Perplexity’s Comet browser will have access to the sidecar assistant.

All users can also utilize additional tools, including:

• Discover: Personalized news and content recommendations.
• Spaces: A platform for organizing and managing projects.
• Shopping: Price comparison and deal finding across retailers.
• Travel: Aggregated information on destinations, flights, and lodging.
• Finance: Tools for budgeting, expense tracking, and investment monitoring.
• Sports: Scores, schedules, and news updates.

Max plan subscribers benefit from access to more powerful AI models and an email assistant. This assistant is designed to draft replies, organize inboxes, schedule meetings, and answer email-related questions.

Introducing the Background Assistant

Max users also receive early access to new Perplexity products and features, including the newly unveiled “background assistant.”

A company representative described this assistant as “a team of assistants working for you,” manageable and trackable from a centralized “mission control” dashboard.

The assistant operates in the background, performing tasks while users engage in other activities. For example, it can simultaneously send an email, add concert tickets to a shopping cart, and identify the optimal flight for a specific date and time.

Users can monitor task progress on the dashboard and intervene as needed, completing tasks or taking control. The assistant provides notifications upon task completion.

The background assistant also features “better connectors,” granting it access to other applications on the user’s computer.

Comet Plus Subscription

Free Comet users have the option to subscribe to Comet Plus for $5 per month. This forthcoming product aims to provide an AI-enhanced alternative to Apple News.

Pro ($20/month) and Max subscribers will automatically receive access to Comet Plus, which includes advanced AI models, image and video generation, and file upload/analysis capabilities.