Perplexity AI, known for its AI-driven search engine, has announced plans to launch its own web browser named Comet. The company shared this news on X on February 24, inviting users to sign up for a waitlist. A spokesperson for Perplexity stated, “Just like Perplexity reinvented search, we’re also reinventing the browser,” indicating a commitment to innovation in web browsing. Perplexity has seen significant growth, with over 100 million queries processed each week, a milestone highlighted by CEO Aravind Srinivas. He expressed ambitions to reach over 100 million queries daily in the near future.
In December, Perplexity secured $500 million in funding, which tripled its valuation to $9 billion. Notable investors include SoftBank, Nvidia, and Jeff Bezos. Earlier in 2024, the company was valued at $520 million, and it had reached a valuation of $3 billion by summer. In addition to their search engine, Perplexity launched an AI shopping assistant called Buy With Pro, designed to enhance the online shopping experience for U.S. users. This feature allows users to research and purchase products directly through the platform, making online shopping more convenient. It includes a one-click checkout option for users who save their shipping and billing details.
Furthermore, Perplexity introduced a visual search tool named Snap to Shop, enabling users to find items by simply uploading a photo. This feature eliminates the need for product descriptions or names, streamlining the shopping process. In the broader landscape, a recent report from Bank of America Global Research revealed that Google’s search engine remains stable, with a slight increase in daily visits, despite the rise of AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude. In January, Google saw an increase in daily visits, reaching 2.7 billion, while ChatGPT experienced a significant 148% year-over-year growth in usage.
