Perplexity has rolled out a transformative update to its Comet Assistant AI, embedded in the AI-powered Comet browser. Launched in July 2025 and now free globally for all users, Comet acts as an always-on digital sidekick for web browsing, research, and routine online chores. The revamp supercharges its “attention span,” enabling it to juggle actions across multiple tabs and apps simultaneously—mimicking human multitasking without the fatigue.
No more manual tab-hopping: Comet can scour flight deals on several sites at once, pull data from one page to populate a spreadsheet on another, or compile job listings from LinkedIn into a single report. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas highlighted this in a November 6 announcement: “Comet can now handle more complex, multi-site workflows while working across multiple tabs in parallel.”
Tackling Tougher Tasks
Beyond parallelism, the update boosts Comet’s prowess in complex, multi-step quests. Internal benchmarks show a 23% jump in task completion rates, especially for long, branching workflows that demand context retention and follow-through. Examples include:
- Automating school attendance tracking by extracting data from portals.
- Streamlining job hunts with cross-site comparisons.
- Building personalized spreadsheets from scattered sources.
Enhanced web perception helps it navigate intricate sites with less hand-holding, reducing drop-offs midway.
User Control Takes Center Stage
To build trust amid expanded powers, Comet now seeks explicit permission before direct interventions—like clicking links, form-filling, or data extraction. Once approved, preferences persist for the session, minimizing interruptions. This “driver’s seat” approach addresses privacy concerns, positioning Comet as a reliable “personal intern” rather than an unchecked bot.
How It Stacks Up
While rivals like Opera Neon and OpenAI’s Atlas explore autonomous agents, Comet emphasizes practicality: It’s free (with Max tier at $200/month for advanced features like Background Assistants), privacy-focused, and integrated seamlessly into browsing. Limitations remain—no full unsupervised projects or perfect nuance detection—but it’s a leap toward taming “browser chaos.”
Buzz on X
The November 6 rollout sparked excitement: Perplexity’s post garnered 723 likes and 132 reposts within hours, with users praising the “game-changer” for productivity. Developers and power users hailed the tab-spanning smarts, while some requested deeper integration with tools like Notion or Google Workspace.
For anyone drowning in open tabs, Comet just became the AI lifeguard you didn’t know you needed.
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News Source: Techradar.com
