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 nan world for free as it useful to position nan merchandise against large browsers and hunt engines. For definite paid subscribers, nan startup has besides launched a caller “background assistant” to grip aggregate tasks via Comet.  

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

Perplexity’s move to make Comet free comes arsenic nan startup fights to compete 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 nan look of specified competition, Perplexity will request to beryllium that Comet’s agentic capabilities work reliably. Because without tangible productivity gains, group mightiness beryllium little inclined to move from their existing browsers.  

For free users, Perplexity’s Comet browser acquisition is still constricted to nan sidecar assistant. All users tin besides entree different devices for illustration Discover (personalized news and contented recommendations akin to OpenAI’s caller Pulse); Spaces (to shape and negociate different projects); Shopping (assists in comparing prices and uncovering deals crossed online retailers); Travel (offers aggregated accusation connected recreation destinations, flights, accommodation, etc); Finance (tools for budgeting, search 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; shape and prioritize your inbox; schedule 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 arena 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 for illustration a “mission control.” 

The adjunct performs multiple tasks connected your machine successful nan background while you do different activity aliases locomotion distant to make a sandwich. In an illustration a spokesperson gave me, you could springiness nan adjunct a task to nonstop an email, adhd nan cheapest tickets to a performance to your cart, and find nan champion nonstop formation connected a circumstantial day and time. You tin cheque nan advancement of nan task completion successful nan dashboard and jump successful to complete nan tasks – for illustration hitting nonstop connected nan email, intervening, aliases taking over. The adjunct will notify you when it has vanished its task.  

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

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