Ever feel like your mobile browser could do more for you? Beyond just searching and displaying web pages, what if it could actively help you manage your day? That's the future that AI search startup Perplexity AI is building with its new browser, Comet, and it might be coming to your next smartphone sooner than you think.
A New Challenger Enters the Arena
Perplexity AI, known for its conversational search engine, is making a bold move. CEO and Co-Founder Aravind Srinivas recently announced that the company is in discussions with major mobile device makers to have its Comet browser preinstalled on new phones. The goal is to get Comet into the hands of "tens to hundreds of millions" of users by 2026.
This strategy aims to tackle what's known in the industry as "browser stickiness." Most of us stick with the browser that comes with our phone, whether it's Chrome on Android or Safari on iOS. By becoming the default option, Perplexity hopes to make its advanced AI tools a part of our daily digital habits.
The Uphill Battle Against Giants
Taking on the established players is no small feat. Srinivas acknowledges the difficulty, stating, "It’s not easy to convince mobile OEMs to change the default browser to Comet from Chrome." The numbers tell the story: as of last month, Google Chrome dominates the mobile browser market with a staggering 70% share, while Apple and Samsung browsers account for another 24%.
Despite the challenge, Perplexity is pushing forward. This isn't the first time we've heard of these ambitions; reports from earlier this year mentioned talks with industry giants like Samsung and Motorola to integrate Perplexity's technology into their smartphones.
What Makes Comet Different?
Currently in a desktop-only beta, Comet isn't just another web browser. It deeply integrates Perplexity's powerful AI, transforming it into a personal assistant. Imagine asking your browser questions about your own emails or browsing history, or telling it to perform tasks like scheduling meetings for you. This is the power of agentic AI—intelligent systems that can make decisions and act on your behalf with minimal input.
This move is part of a broader industry shift. Other major players, including OpenAI, are also reportedly developing their own agentic AI browsers capable of automating complex tasks like booking an entire trip or managing your finances.
The Shifting Sands of SEO
The rise of AI-powered search and agentic browsers is set to fundamentally change how we discover information online. The traditional model of search engine optimization (SEO) is already feeling the impact. As Joy Youell, owner of Winsome Marketing, explained, "The traditional SEO game is breaking down. SMBs can’t just rely on ranking for search terms anymore. They’ll need to focus on visibility inside generative AI platforms."
For businesses, this means adapting to a new reality where being discoverable by AI is just as important as ranking on a Google search results page.
Key Takeaways
- New Competition: Perplexity AI aims to get its Comet browser preinstalled on smartphones.
- Agentic AI: Comet uses advanced AI to act as a personal assistant, performing tasks and answering complex questions.
- Market Challenge: The company faces a major challenge in competing with the dominant market share of Google Chrome and Apple's Safari.
- Industry Trend: This is part of a larger shift towards browsers with built-in AI agents, with companies like OpenAI also entering the space.
- SEO Evolution: The rise of AI search is forcing businesses to rethink their online visibility strategies beyond traditional SEO.