Nvidia-backed startup Perplexity is in discussions with mobile device manufacturers to pre-install its new Comet browser on smartphones. This was revealed by the company’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, in an interview with Reuters.
This move could broaden the reach of the AI search engine, as users often stick with default pre-installed browsers. However, persuading mobile gadget developers is no easy task, noted Srinivas.
After stabilizing the desktop version of Comet, designed for several hundred thousand users, Perplexity plans to target an audience of “tens or hundreds of millions” next year.
In July, the company launched its own web browser, Comet. The key feature of the tool is an integrated AI search system that summarizes query results.
The application allows users to ask questions related to personal data and perform tasks: scheduling meetings, summarizing web page content, and more.
Meanwhile, OpenAI plans to release its own AI-based web browser in the coming weeks. Instead of the usual site navigation, some actions will be executed directly within an interface similar to ChatGPT.
The startup’s efforts reflect a broader industry trend towards creating web browsers with agent-based AI functions that perform routine tasks for users, such as booking hotels or purchasing airline tickets.
According to Statcounter, last month Chrome accounted for about 70% of mobile traffic, with Apple’s Safari and Samsung’s browser making up another 24%.
In April, the number of search queries in Safari declined for the first time. This is linked to the growing popularity of AI-based chatbots, as people increasingly turn to them for assistance instead of traditional internet searches.