Perplexity AI, a startup backed by Nvidia, is making strategic moves to challenge Google’s dominance in AI-powered search and browsing. The company is in talks with several smartphone manufacturers to have its AI-integrated browser, Comet, pre-installed on mobile devices. This strategy aims to enhance user engagement by offering immediate access on phones, thereby expanding Comet’s reach in a market traditionally hard for new browsers to enter, especially against entrenched incumbents like Google Chrome. Currently in desktop beta, Comet stands out by embedding AI directly into the browsing experience. Beyond typical search functions, Comet enables users to query personal data and automate diverse online tasks. This reflects the rise of "agentic AI browsers" that perform complex, multi-step operations with minimal user input, potentially revolutionizing how people interact with digital content and accomplish everyday online activities. Perplexity AI’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, plans to scale from a few hundred thousand testers to tens or even hundreds of millions users by next year, aligning with AI’s broader push toward mainstream adoption and market disruption. In addition to mobile browser partnerships, the company is reportedly negotiating with smartphone giants like Apple and Samsung to integrate its AI technology into their ecosystems, enhancing digital assistants such as Siri and Bixby. These collaborations could deepen AI-driven personalization and task automation on mobile platforms. Perplexity faces a significant challenge, as Google Chrome controls about 70% of the global mobile browser market.

Any substantial market share gained by Comet would mark an important disruption, potentially driving innovation and new AI features across browsers. Investor confidence in Perplexity’s vision is strong: the company recently raised $500 million, achieving a $14 billion valuation, with backing from Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and Eric Schmidt. This funding supports faster development and strategic partnerships while signaling belief in the startup’s potential to reshape AI search and browsing. AI-powered browsers like Comet exemplify a broader move toward intelligent, autonomous digital tools. By integrating AI directly into browsing, Perplexity and others aim to reduce friction, enabling users to find information faster, manage workflows efficiently, and personalize content consumption to new levels. However, this shift also raises important questions about privacy, data security, and user control in AI-assisted environments. As Perplexity AI advances, both the tech industry and consumers will watch closely to see how its innovations influence daily digital habits. If successful, the company could usher in a new era where AI transforms web interaction by blending convenience, intelligence, and personalization into everyday online experiences.