Comet is an AI-first browser developed by Perplexity AI, launched in July 2025 (July 9) in limited release. Built on the Chromium foundation, it’s not just Chrome with AI added—Comet reimagines the browsing experience by embedding an intelligent, conversational assistant that anticipates your needs, offers contextual summaries, automates tasks, and remembers your workflow to think with you.
Currently, it’s in early-access via a Perplexity Max subscription (around US $200/month).
In the short term, not likely.
- Google Chrome dominates with over 60% market share and around 3 billion active users; its integration with the Google ecosystem (search, ads, YouTube, etc.) gives it immense strategic weight.
- Comet is currently a premium, limited-release alternative—not yet positioned for mass consumer adoption.
In the longer run? Maybe—but uphill.
- Chrome’s entrenched infrastructure, ubiquity, and integration make wholesale replacement difficult.
- Comet, however, represents the evolution of browsers—shifting from passive tools to proactive, AI-powered assistants.
- Its AI-native architecture offers a compelling vision of what the future of browsing could look like, particularly for productivity and task automation.
In summary: Comet—innovative and forward-thinking; Chrome—still deeply anchored in everyday reality.
- Analysts (Bloomberg Intelligence, etc.) estimate Chrome’s value between $15–20 billion.
- At the DOJ antitrust hearings, DuckDuckGo’s CEO testified that Chrome could fetch upwards of $50 billion if sold.
- Perplexity made an all-cash $34.5 billion offer for Chrome—more than double its own $18 billion valuation.
Thus, Perplexity’s bid is bold and attention-grabbing, but market consensus leans toward a higher valuation. Chrome is likely worth more than what even Perplexity proposed.
Absolutely—it’s a significant step.
- Comet signals a shift from traditional browsers to AI-native, agentic interfaces that can manage tasks and context intelligently.
- In India, even exploratory discussions hint at deeper localization—Perplexity and Zerodha (India’s leading retail trading platform) are in talks to integrate Indian stock market data into Comet, showcasing potential for contextual, region-specific AI tools .
- It situates India as a leader in AI-driven browser innovation, especially with localized use-cases.
Highly unlikely. Here’s why:
- Historical precedents: India introduced local alternatives like Koo (microblogging) and Josh (short-video) when tensions or bans arose. Koo rose briefly during government vs. Twitter standoffs, but ultimately shut down in July 2024
- TikTok’s removal spurred Indian substitutes briefly, but global platforms like YouTube (Shorts) and Instagram (Reels) quickly filled the void—due to better infrastructure, features, and network effects
- India’s regulatory environment is evolving to regulate foreign tech companies—enforcing takedown compliance, executive liability, and privacy standards—but not banning these platforms outright
- Network effects make large platforms (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, X) resilient—users, creators, communities are deeply embedded.
Bottom line: Comet is not a social media platform, so it won’t replace networks like YouTube or Instagram. While India may seek more localized solutions or tighter regulation, replacing global giants entirely seems improbable. That said, regional alternatives may emerge alongside regulation, but replicating those network strengths is a steep climb.
| Question | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Comet vs. Chrome replacement | Not imminent — possible long-term contender in niche/productivity use. |
| Chrome valuation vs. Perplexity bid | Perplexity’s $34.5 b bid overshoots its valuation; still below analysts’ high-end estimates. |
| Comet as technological milestone | Yes—AI-native browsing and Indian localized integration show promise. |
| Comet replacing YouTube, Instagram, etc. | No—different category entirely; unlikely to replace social platforms. |
