According to engadget, Perplexity’s Comet AI browser is now available for Android devices through the Google Play Store, marking its expansion to mobile platforms. The browser initially launched this summer exclusively for Perplexity’s high-paying subscribers on the $200-per-month Pro plan, but opened to all users last month. It’s completely free on Android, just like other platforms, and includes many of the same features as the desktop version. The mobile browser provides access to Perplexity’s AI assistant, which can summarize searches and be controlled by voice commands. Perplexity has been transparent about using the browser to collect customer data for more effective ad targeting. This approach has already drawn complaints from companies like Amazon, particularly around AI integration in shopping experiences.
The data collection reality
Here’s the thing that makes this interesting – Perplexity isn’t hiding their intentions. They’re straight-up telling users that this browser exists to collect data for better ad targeting. That’s actually refreshing in a weird way, since most companies try to obscure their data harvesting behind vague privacy policies. But it raises the obvious question: are people really willing to trade their browsing data for AI features? The voice search and summarization capabilities are genuinely useful, but the cost is your digital footprint being analyzed for advertising purposes. It’s the classic tech trade-off – convenience versus privacy.
The AI browser arms race
Perplexity isn’t alone in this space, and that’s what makes this launch significant. We’re seeing an entire category of AI browsers emerge, each promising to revolutionize how we interact with the web. But the business model question remains unanswered. If these browsers are free, how do they make money? Well, Perplexity just told us – data and ads. The concern, as engadget notes, is that these platforms could become playgrounds for scammers if not properly monitored. Amazon’s complaints about AI in shopping contexts show that established players are already getting nervous about how these tools might disrupt their ecosystems.
What mobile means for adoption
Bringing Comet to Android is a smart move. Mobile is where most people do their casual browsing and quick searches anyway. The voice interaction feature makes particular sense on phones – nobody wants to type long queries on a tiny keyboard. But I wonder how the summarization feature will work in practice. Will it actually save time, or will people end up spending more time fact-checking the AI’s summaries? The Android availability definitely lowers the barrier to entry though. Instead of being locked behind that insane $200 monthly fee, anyone can now try it. That’s a huge shift in strategy that suggests Perplexity is prioritizing user growth over premium subscriptions, at least for the browser itself.
