Perplexity’s Comet AI browser now free; Max users get new ‘background assistant’

AI hunt startup Perplexity is making its caller Comet browser disposable to everyone successful the satellite for free as it works to presumption the merchandise against large browsers and hunt engines. For definite paid subscribers, the startup has besides launched a caller “background assistant” to grip aggregate tasks via Comet.  

Perplexity archetypal launched Comet to subscribers of its $200-per-month Max plan three months ago, and since then, “millions” person signed up connected the waitlist to download the browser. Comet’s main diagnostic is simply a sidecar adjunct that joins you portion you browse, helping to reply immoderate questions you whitethorn person astir the web page you’re on, summarize content, negociate web content, and navigate web pages connected your behalf.  

Perplexity’s determination to marque Comet escaped comes arsenic the startup fights to vie against some incumbents like Google Chrome and newcomers like The Browser Company’s AI-powered browser Dia. It besides comes up of OpenAI’s much-anticipated AI-powered browser launch.  

In the look of specified competition, Perplexity volition request to beryllium that Comet’s agentic capabilities work reliably. Because without tangible productivity gains, radical mightiness beryllium little inclined to power from their existing browsers.  

For escaped users, Perplexity’s Comet browser acquisition is inactive constricted to the sidecar assistant. All users tin besides entree antithetic tools similar Discover (personalized quality and contented recommendations akin to OpenAI’s caller Pulse); Spaces (to signifier and negociate antithetic projects); Shopping (assists in comparing prices and uncovering deals crossed online retailers); Travel (offers aggregated accusation connected question destinations, flights, accommodation, etc); Finance (tools for budgeting, tracking expenses, monitoring investments); and Sports (updates connected scores, schedules, and news).  

Max users get entree to high-performing AI models and can entree Perplexity’s email assistant, which promises to draught replies and constitute responses that lucifer your tone; signifier and prioritize your inbox; docket meetings; and reply questions astir your inbox.  

Max users also get early access to Perplexity products and features, including a caller “background assistant” that CEO Aravind Srinivas announced astatine an lawsuit Wednesday evening.  

Perplexity’s “background assistant” tin execute aggregate tasks astatine once. Image Credits:Perplexity

A institution spokesperson described the adjunct arsenic “a squad of assistants moving for you” that you tin manage and track from a cardinal dashboard similar a “mission control.” 

The adjunct performs multiple tasks connected your machine successful the background while you bash different enactment oregon locomotion distant to marque a sandwich. In an illustration a spokesperson gave me, you could springiness the adjunct a task to nonstop an email, adhd the cheapest tickets to a performance to your cart, and find the champion nonstop formation connected a circumstantial day and time. You tin cheque the advancement of the task completion successful the dashboard and jump successful to implicit the tasks – similar hitting nonstop connected the email, intervening, oregon taking over. The adjunct will notify you when it has finished its task.  

The background assistant also has “better connectors,” truthful it tin entree different apps connected your computer, per the spokesperson. TechCrunch asked for much specifics astir usage cases and wherever the inheritance adjunct thrives. 

Free Comet users tin also purchase a $5-per-month standalone subscription to Comet Plus, a forthcoming merchandise that aims to supply an AI-enhanced alternate to Apple News. Pro users (who wage $20-per-month for advanced AI models, representation and video generation, file upload and analysis, etc.) and Max users volition get entree to Comet Plus automatically.