Perplexity Opens Up Comet AI Browser — Now Free for All Users
Perplexity has announced that its AI-powered browser **Comet** — previously limited to its highest-tier ($200/month) plan — is now available **for free to everyone**. The move aims to broaden access and challenge conventional browser models.
Quick Insight: Comet blends AI search, task automation, and a personal assistant to walk users through browsing tasks—turning the browser into a more proactive agent rather than just a gateway to web pages.
1. How the Free Version Works & What Changed
• Comet originally launched in July 2025 only for subscribers to its **Max** plan (about $200/month).
• It later expanded access to select **Pro** users and users on its waitlist.
• Now, Perplexity says no subscription is needed for basic Comet use—though free users may face rate limits or feature restrictions.
• **Comet Plus**, a paid add-on, offers curated content from media partners and is included for Pro/Max users or available for $5/month for others.
2. What Makes Comet Different
• The browser aims to put AI at the core: Comet can interpret user goals, fetch information, manage tasks, and summarize content as you browse.
• It promises to be “agentic”—traveling the web with you, not just being a shell that displays pages.
• Because it's built on Chromium, it supports familiar browser extensions, bookmarks, and compatibility.
• The model also includes content summarization, task automation, and workflow assistance.
3. Challenges, Risks & Competitive Landscape
• **Rate limits & feature caps:** Free users may have restricted access compared to Pro/Max tiers.
• **Content & licensing pressure:** Comet’s success depends on responsibly handling sources and respecting copyrights—especially as AI tools face scrutiny.
• **Competition intensifies:** Other firms are pushing AI browsing features (e.g. Google with Gemini, Opera with Neon).
• **Security & AI risks:** As the browser acts on behalf of users, it's susceptible to prompt injection, malicious commands, or misinterpretation of instructions embedded in web content. (Raised in security audits.)
• **Monetization & sustainability:** Free access raises the question of how Perplexity will sustain development and infrastructure costs—likely through Comet Plus, partnerships, or value-added services.
What This Means for Users & the African Tech Ecosystem
• For general users, Comet’s free model lowers entry barriers to AI-augmented browsing—opening advanced tools to wider audiences.
• In regions like Nigeria, it offers an opportunity to access smarter browsing—even with limited hardware or budgets.
• Developers and startups could build plugins or applications around Comet’s AI features.
• But it also poses regulatory and infrastructure challenges: content licensing, internet policy, AI safety rules, and fairness in access.
• For governments and regulators, this signals urgency to develop AI & digital policies that protect citizens, creators, and competition.
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