Perplexity AI in Talks to Pre‑Install AI‑Powered Comet Browser on Smartphones
“Perplexity AI is in advanced talks with Samsung and Apple to pre‑install its AI‑enabled Comet browser on smartphones, aiming to grow usage from desktop beta to hundreds of millions of mobile users next year.”
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Nvidia‑backed startup Perplexity AI is in active discussions with major smartphone makers—including Samsung and Apple—to pre‑install its AI‑infused Comet browser on upcoming devices, according to CEO Aravind Srinivas. Currently in desktop beta for a few hundred thousand testers, the company aims to scale Comet’s user base to “tens to hundreds of millions” mobile users by next year.
The proposed pre‑installation would address browser “stickiness,” a phenomenon where users typically stick with default apps like Chrome or Safari. Comet is built on Chromium and integrates AI directly into browsing, enabling users to query personal data (emails, calendar, browsing history), summarize web content, schedule meetings, and automate tasks—all from within the browser.
This move signals a broader industry shift toward agentic AI tools embedded in everyday apps, and comes as Perplexity prepares for wider mobile availability later this year. With an estimated 70% market share held by Chrome and 24% by Safari/Samsung, Comet aims to break into this duopoly.
Perplexity has also raised $500 million at a $14 billion valuation, backed by Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, Eric Schmidt, and Accel—strengthening its push into AI-powered browsing. If pre‑installation deals go through, Comet could rapidly expand its reach by leveraging smartphone distribution channels.
