Perplexity AI has introduced Comet, an AI-driven web browser for Mac and Windows that folds the company’s conversational search engine into a Chrome-style interface. The product, now in invite-only beta for users on Perplexity’s $200-a-month Pro tier, features a side-panel assistant able to read pages, pull data from logged-in services and carry out multi-step tasks such as drafting emails or placing online orders. Chief Executive Officer Aravind Srinivas called the browser “AI’s killer app,” arguing that local log-ins and client-side data give Comet a clearer path to useful autonomous agents than server-based approaches. He said long-horizon tasks should work reliably within a year as reasoning models improve, turning the browser into what he describes as a “cognitive operating system.” Srinivas told The Verge and other outlets that Perplexity aims to reach profitability and roughly US$1 billion in annual revenue before pursuing an initial public offering in 2028 or 2029. While Comet currently requires a premium subscription, the company is exploring usage-based fees for complex tasks and plans to release a free tier once computing costs allow. The executive took direct aim at Google, saying the search giant’s ad-funded model conflicts with browser-based AI agents and that it must “embrace one path and suffer” if it wants to keep pace. He expects incumbents, including Google’s Project Mariner and a mooted OpenAI browser, to replicate Comet’s features but believes Perplexity can move faster. Competition is already intensifying in India, where Airtel customers can claim a 12-month Perplexity Pro subscription at no charge, while Google is offering a year of its Gemini-powered AI Pro plan free to eligible students. The parallel promotions underscore the stakes as AI players race to lock in users ahead of the next round of the browser wars.