AI Search Startup Perplexity works to deploy products against Big Browser and Search Engines, making it free for everyone around the world. For certain paid subscribers, the startup has also launched a new “background assistant” to handle multiple tasks via Comet.
Perplexity first launched the comet three months ago for subscribers with the largest plan, $200 a month, and since then “millions” have signed up for WaitList to download their browsers. The main feature of Comet is the sidecar assistants that you will participate while browsing. It helps you answer questions about the web pages you are using, summarizing content, managing web content, and navigating web pages on your behalf.
As startups fight against both incumbents like Google Chrome and newcomers like browser company AI-driven browser DIA, there’s a Perplexity move to make comets free. It also advances OpenAI’s highly anticipated launch of AI-equipped browsers.
In the face of such competition, confusion must prove that the comet’s agent capabilities are certainly functioning. Without a concrete productivity boost, people may not be more likely to switch from existing browsers.
For free users, Perplexity’s Comet browser experience is still limited to SideCar assistants. All users also have access to a variety of tools, such as Discover (personalized news and content recommendations similar to OpenAI’s new pulse). Space (to organize and manage different projects); Shopping (to compare prices and help find deals across online retailers); Travel (to provide tally information about travel destinations, flights, accommodations, and more). Finance (a tool for budgeting, tracking costs, investment monitoring); Sports (scores, schedules, news updates).
MAX users can access high-performance AI models and access Perplexity’s email assistant. Organize and prioritize your inbox. Schedule a meeting. Answer questions about your inbox.
Max users will also have early access to Perplexity products and features, including the new “background assistant” announced by CEO Aravind Srinivas at the Wednesday evening event.
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A company spokesman described the assistant as “a team of assistants working for you.” This is something you can manage and track from a central dashboard like “Mission Control.”
The assistant will perform multiple tasks on the computer in the background, and either do other tasks or leave to make sandwiches. The example that the spokesman gave me is to give the assistant the task of sending an email, add the cheapest ticket to the concert in your cart, and find the best direct flight on a specific date and time. You can check the progress of completing tasks in the dashboard and jump to complete the task. Email sends such as hit, intervention, or take over. The assistant will notify you when the task is finished.
Background assistants also have a “better connector,” which allows you to access other apps on your computer, according to the spokesman. TechCrunch sought details on use cases and where background assistants thrive.
Free Comet users can also purchase a $5 per month standalone subscription to Comet Plus, an upcoming product aimed at offering an AI-enhanced alternative to Apple News. Pro users (pay $20 a month for advanced AI models, image and video generation, file upload and analysis, and more) and MAX users will have automatic access to Comet Plus.
