Perplexity AI Reportedly Wants Its Comet Browser Preloaded on Smartphones

AI startup Perplexity, which recently closed a $500 million funding round backed by Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt, is reportedly working to bring its Comet browser to a wider audience through direct partnerships with smartphone makers.

According to a report from Reuters, the company is in advanced talks to pre-install Comet on new mobile devices, either as a default or as an optional browser.

What Is the Comet Browser Trying to Solve?

Unlike traditional browsers that serve as passive gateways to the web, Comet aims to actively assist users by blending web navigation with intelligent task management. While still in beta for desktop users, Comet integrates Perplexity’s conversational AI engine to perform actions like summarizing content, managing schedules, searching emails and calendars, and answering context-aware queries.

Rather than positioning itself as a new search engine, Comet is marketed as a full-scale browser assistant. Built on Chromium, it supports existing Chrome extensions and bookmarks, reducing friction for potential users looking to switch.

Smartphone Strategy

According to Reuters, Perplexity is exploring deals that would allow Comet to ship preloaded on smartphones. If successful, such partnerships would provide Comet with significant distribution power in a market where browser defaults heavily influence user choice.

The company is reportedly also in discussions to integrate its AI features into voice assistants like Siri and Bixby, further broadening its reach across iOS and Android ecosystems.

At present, Google Chrome controls about 70% of the mobile browser market, while Apple’s Safari and Samsung’s browser split much of the rest. Gaining a foothold against such incumbents will likely depend on Perplexity’s ability to offer a clearly differentiated AI experience — and to secure strong distribution channels.

Monetization and Rollout Plans

Access to the Comet browser is currently limited to users of Perplexity Max, a subscription plan priced at $200 per month. A wider rollout is expected to begin with invitation-only access for Windows and Mac, followed by mobile versions for Android and iOS by the end of 2025.

Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas told Reuters that although challenging, getting Comet onto smartphones through pre-installation deals could significantly accelerate user adoption — from a few hundred thousand beta testers today to a projected “tens to hundreds of millions” in the coming year.

Competitive Pressure in the AI Browser Space

Perplexity is not alone in targeting this segment. OpenAI is reportedly working on a similar AI browser, capable of executing multi-step workflows like booking travel or planning finances.