A Look Inside Comet: Perplexity’s AI-Powered Browser

This walkthrough covers the basics of Comet, what’s available on free vs. paid plans, and a preview of several practical workflows.

Who It’s For

• Researchers seeking reliable citations
• Shoppers looking for the best deals without manual searching
• Anyone wanting an easy-to-use virtual assistant

Requirements

• Comet browser from Perplexity
• A free or paid Perplexity subscription

Step 1: Install and Set Up

Download and install the Comet desktop app.

Follow the onboarding steps (turn up your volume for the intro experience).

Tip: You don’t need to set it as your default browser for ad blocking; it works regardless.

Step 2: Navigate the Interface

Most tools are located in the sidebar and the top-right navigation area.

Sidebar Tools

• Library: your chat history
• Discover: a customizable feed of trending AI content
• Spaces: build agents with custom context (docs, links, tools, instructions)
• Finance: AI-powered financial insights similar to Yahoo Finance or Bloomberg Terminal
• More: additional tools you can add

Navigation Bar Tools

• Summarize Page: click the three-line icon or press ⌥ + S to generate a summary of the current page
• Voice Mode: use the sound-wave icon or ⌥ + Shift + V for voice interaction
• Assistant: opens a side panel that can control your browser tab and perform actions

Step 3: Try a Template

Go to Spaces and then Templates and select a task.

A good starting option is Trip Planner Pro. Enter a prompt like:

“Plan a trip from [city] to [destination] on [dates].”

Templates work similarly to custom GPTs but are more structured. Some may include forms for inputs like budget or preferences.

Tip: Use the “Get Started with Perplexity” template to learn the platform faster.

Step 4: Run Your First Workflow

Visit a shopping site such as Amazon or Walmart.

Open Assistant (⌥ + A or via the top-right icon) and try:

“Find a computer mouse with 5k+ reviews, 4.5+ rating, under $60, and add it to my cart.”

A blue overlay indicates the assistant is actively controlling your tab.

Going Further

To unlock more functionality, configure integrations and services in your profile settings.

• Assistant: enhances automation capabilities
• Connectors: links external tools and data
• Purchases: enables buying with your saved payment method

The Purchases section also allows tracking of orders, and Comet includes similar tracking for travel bookings.