Perplexity Comet AI Browser Review – First Thoughts
So, What’s the Deal with This New Browser?
Okay, hear me out. Chrome’s been the king forever, right? But now there’s this new kid on the block—Perplexity’s Comet AI Browser. It’s still in the works, but man, it’s got some serious smarts. Picture this: instead of just throwing a bunch of links at you, it actually gets what you’re asking and gives you straight-up answers. Sounds cool? Yeah, I thought so too. Here’s my take after playing around with it for a bit.
Wait, What Exactly Is Perplexity Comet?
Think of it like your regular browser, but with a brain upgrade. It’s built around AI from the ground up. So when you search for something, it doesn’t just dump a pile of websites on you—it reads them for you and gives you the gist. And get this: you can even chat with it about whatever page you’re on. Kinda like having ChatGPT baked right into your browser, minus the headache of juggling a million tabs.
How Do I Get My Hands on It?
Right now, it’s in early access, which means you gotta sign up on their website and hope you get picked. Installing it’s a breeze though—just download and run it. Works fine on most computers (Windows or Mac, doesn’t need crazy specs). But hey, don’t expect it to be flawless yet. It’s still got that new-car smell, you know?
The Good Stuff: What Stood Out
1. Search That Actually Helps You
You know how Google gives you those tiny snippets that never quite answer your question? Comet’s different. Ask something like “best cheap phone under 20k” and boom—you get a neat little breakdown with options, pros and cons, all without clicking anything. A real game-changer. Seriously.
2. It’s Like It Reads Your Mind
Start typing in the address bar, and it suggests better ways to phrase your search. Like if you’re reading about Python coding, it might pop up with “Python tutorials for beginners” before you even finish typing. Spooky smart.
3. Built-In Research Buddy
This is where it gets wild. Highlight any text, right-click, and ask it to explain like you’re five or find opposing views. For students or anyone who writes, this is basically cheating—but the good kind.
4. Surprisingly Zippy
I was expecting some lag with all the AI stuff, but nope. Pages load as fast as Chrome, and it uses less memory too. Though if you ask it to summarize a huge document, you might need to wait a few seconds.
The Not-So-Good Parts
What Works:
- ⚡ Get answers fast—no more wading through forum posts
- 🎨 Clean design—none of that cluttered nonsense
- ⏳ Saves hours—research that used to take forever now takes minutes
What Doesn’t:
- 🐞 Still buggy—crashes sometimes (but hey, it’s beta)
- 🔌 No add-ons yet—so your favorite extensions won’t work
- 🔒 Privacy?—not totally clear how they handle your data
How It Compares to Other Browsers
vs. Chrome/Firefox: Comet’s AI smokes them for research, but lacks all the extra features we’re used to.
vs. Arc Browser: Arc looks prettier, but Comet’s way more useful if you actually need to get stuff done.
vs. ChatGPT Browser: If you just want to chat with AI, stick with ChatGPT. Comet lets you browse normally too.
Who’s This Actually For?
Perfect for: Tech nerds, students, anyone who’s tired of clickbait articles. If you’re happy with how Chrome works now, maybe wait till Comet’s more polished.
Final Take: Should You Care?
Honest answer? It’s not quite ready to replace your main browser—but holy cow, it shows where things are heading. The AI features alone make it worth trying if you’re into this stuff. Give it a year, and Chrome might actually have some competition.
Where to Follow Updates
Keep an eye on Perplexity’s website or their social media. If you’re impatient, join the waitlist. Also worth watching: Opera’s Aria and Brave’s Leo—this AI browser race is heating up fast.
Wrapping Up
Perplexity Comet isn’t perfect, but it’s one of those rare glimpses at how browsing should work. AI isn’t just changing search—it’s about to turn the whole internet upside down. If you’re curious, give it a shot. And hey, hit me up if you try it—I’d love to hear what you think.
Source: ZDNet – AI
