Hands-On With Comet
Is Perplexity’s new Agentic Browser the Future of the Web?
Guess who got early access to Perplexity’s brand new agentic browser, Comet? That’s right, it’s me!
In this week’s video, I put Comet through a bunch of real-world tests: from smart scheduling and cross-platform connections, to tab wrangling and deep-dive research. You can watch the full deep-dive on YouTube here:
What Makes Comet Different?
Comet is a Chromium-based browser with Perplexity’s AI built right in. That means it has real-time context of every tab you have open, remembers your activity, and acts as an agent that can automate tasks, summarize information, and let you interact with content conversationally. The goal? Move away from old-school browsing toward a more “cognitive” experience where you think it, and Comet helps you do it. Imagine automating calendar invites, summarizing articles, or cross-referencing profiles without ever leaving your browser. That’s the promise, anyway.
Putting Comet to the Test: Real-World Scenarios
I ran Comet through a series of hands-on challenges in the video to see if it lives up to the promise:
Smart Scheduling: I asked Comet to find an open slot in my calendar, tentatively reserve it, and draft an email to propose the time. It not only found a slot and marked it as tentative, but also created a draft email… though it tripped up on the recipient. Still, the automation potential is huge.
Cross-Platform Connections: On Twitter, I found Aravind Srinivas (Perplexity’s CEO) and wondered if we had mutual LinkedIn connections. Comet cross-referenced my LinkedIn and gave me a list, showing off its ability to bridge platforms and contexts without manual copy-paste.
Article Counterpoints: While reading an article, I asked for counterpoints. Comet instantly summarized alternative perspectives and criticisms, saving me the hassle of separate searches and giving me a fuller picture, right in the sidebar.
Travel Planning: I had Comet add flights from Kayak to my calendar, including drive times, parking, and airport buffer. It created multiple calendar entries with all the details.
Conference Research: I got an email with the first 50 speakers for the HumanX conference that I wanted to make quick sense of. Comet pulled the agenda, researched speakers’ backgrounds, surfaced emerging themes, and even recommended the best guests for my podcast. Now THAT is cool.
Camera Comparison: With three camera pages open, I asked for a markdown table comparing video specs. Comet read the tabs, ignored irrelevant ones, and generated a clear table. It could then answer follow-ups like which camera is best for live streaming.
Tab Organization: My browser was a mess of news, recipes, and blank Google tabs. With a single prompt, Comet grouped articles, organized recipes, and closed duplicates. It even learned from a follow-up to close extra blank tabs.
The Verdict: Is Comet the Chrome Killer?
After 24 hours of testing, here’s my take: Google has dominated with Chrome for years, but there’s chum in the water. Perplexity sees an opportunity to redefine what a browser can be, and they’re not alone with ChatGPT and others racing to build similar agentic browsers. Comet’s workflows are a glimpse of what’s coming: impressive power and automation, but at the cost of granting deep access to your digital life. It’s a bold vision of the web’s future where your browser isn’t just a window, but a true assistant.
Do you think agentic browsers stand a chance against traditional browsers like Chrome? See you next time.