Perplexity breaks new ground with Comet: artificial intelligence at the heart of navigation
In July 2025, Perplexity AI, known for its conversational response engine, announced the launch of Comet, a web browser boosted by artificial intelligence1. This new tool marks a major evolution in information access: it integrates generative AI directly into the browser interface.
Comet presents itself as an alternative to traditional search engines and existing conversational AIs. It combines the synthesis capabilities of an AI assistant with active browsing of reliable, sourced sources, in a spirit of transparency that is dear to Perplexity.
Artificial intelligence rethinks navigation
With Comet, Perplexity transforms the way we interact with the web:
- Users can formulate their queries in natural language,
- AI provides targeted summaries of web pages,
- Answers are sourced and original links displayed,
- The conversational thread remains active, enabling successive contextualized searches,
- The interface combines free browsing, guided reading and suggestions for further study.
The browser is based on several language models, including GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 and an in-house engine, combined to enhance the relevance of results2.
Technology designed for verifiability and transparency
Comet remains true to Perplexity’s positioning : making AI traceable, controllable and verifiable. Unlike some chatbots that reply without citing their sources, Comet displays :
- the documents used to generate an answer,
- source publication dates,
- direct links to consulted content,
- a reliability indicator according to the type of site (institutional, academic, media, etc.).
This transparency enables the user to validate, cross-check or challenge the assertions produced by the AI.
What uses for Comet in education, research and business?
Comet is designed for a wide range of advanced applications:
- Students and teachers: documentary research, preparation of summaries, accelerated comprehension of complex content,
- Researchers and analysts: cross-referencing sources, monitoring sectors, formulating hypotheses,
- Professionals: assisted writing, strategy, report summaries, knowledge management,
- Journalists: quick verification of information, contextualization of current events.
This is a cognitive assistant applied to navigation, optimized for time savings and depth of analysis.3.
The limits and challenges of this intelligent browser
Despite its promise, Comet is not without its challenges:
- Hallucinations: even a well-sourced summary can be approximate or erroneous,
- Biased selection of sources: the neutrality of the engine depends on the weighting criteria,
- Confidentiality: queries may contain sensitive information,
- Web compatibility: some pages or dynamic content still resist automatic analysis.
These limitations are a reminder that AI should not be a substitute for critical reasoning, but rather a tool for amplifying it.
What are the ethical issues raised by a browser guided by artificial intelligence?
The arrival of a conversational browser like Comet raises several major ethical questions:
- Algorithmic transparency: does the user understand how the AI prioritizes results?
- Pluralism and diversity: does Comet showcase a variety of viewpoints or standardize access to information?
- Consent and personal data: what happens to sensitive requests processed by AI?
- Liability: in the event of error or manipulation, who is liable: Perplexity, the models used, or the end user?
- Cognitive autonomy: can the ease offered by AI reduce the exercise of individual discernment?
These issues are a reminder of the importance of governing the interface as much as the intelligence that drives it.4.
Towards a new generation of AI browsers?
Comet illustrates a major evolution: thenative integration of AI into web exploration tools. Navigation is no longer passive, but oriented, commented and assisted. The user becomes a co-browser, with AI suggesting, rephrasing and guiding.
This change raises a fundamental question: do we want to retain control of our navigation or delegate it to artificial intelligence?
The answer will depend on the ability of publishers like Perplexity to maintain a balance between technological performance and informational responsibility.
References
1. Perplexity AI. (2025). Introducing Comet: An AI-Native Browser.
https://www.perplexity.ai/blog/comet
2. TechCrunch. (2025). Perplexity launches Comet to compete with OpenAI’s web ambitions.
https://techcrunch.com/
3. MIT Technology Review. (2024). The rise of cognitive browsing tools.
https://www.technologyreview.com/
4. European Commission. (2024). AI and Transparency in Web Interfaces.
https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu
