Google beware, the race for AI-integrated browsers is heating up. Perplexity has launched its own browser featuring AI-powered search, and reports suggest OpenAI is preparing to do the same.

These developments mark a new battleground in the struggle for control over artificial intelligence, directly challenging Google Chrome and its lucrative data-driven Search service.

Considering that Google's advertising business constitutes the majority of its revenue, the emergence of these competitors could present a significant long-term challenge.

Perplexity's CEO Aravind Srinivas has openly expressed the company’s ambitions to compete in the search space, having previously attempted to collaborate with Google on this front.

"I reached out to Chrome to offer Perplexity as a default search engine option a long time ago," he posted on X.

"They refused. Hence we decided to build [the] Perplexity Comet browser."

Google faces mounting competition

According to StatCounter, Chrome holds more than two-thirds of the global browser market share and has remained the most widely used browser for over a decade, while Google Search accounts for 90% of global searches.

The arrival of generative AI and the popularity of OpenAI's ChatGPT have introduced new threats to search traffic, though Alphabet, Google’s parent company, saw an 8.5% year-over-year increase in ad and search revenue last quarter.

In response, Google has introduced its own AI-enhanced search feature called AI Overviews. However, now competitors are setting their sights on the dominant browser itself.

Perplexity’s newly released browser, named Comet, is already available for download to premium subscribers, while OpenAI is reportedly set to unveil its own browser within weeks. Brave and the Browser Company have also entered the arena with their own AI-integrated browsers.

Last year, the US Department of Justice suggested that selling Chrome might be one solution to address antitrust concerns surrounding Google’s dominance in search. The judge overseeing the case has since reconsidered that stance in light of growing AI-based competition.

"Do you think someone is going to come off the sidelines and build a new general search engine in light of what we are seeing," US District Judge Amit Mehta suggested in May.

It seems the answer is clearly yes.

Introducing the Perplexity Comet browser

The Perplexity Comet browser naturally bypasses Google Search, instead using Perplexity's own AI-powered search engine, which delivers summarized results rather than traditional links. The browser also includes an embedded AI assistant called Comet Assistant.

That said, Comet is built on the Chromium platform.

"Comet is a Chromium-based browser that integrates advanced AI capabilities powered by Perplexity," the company explains in its help documents. It retains standard browser features such as bookmarks, page translation, and support for Chrome extensions, along with a suite of AI tools.

These tools include personalized search based on browsing history, a summarize button for condensing lengthy content, an "ask" function for extracting information from web pages, and integration with Gmail for email and calendar-related queries.

Moreover, browser commands can be issued via natural language or voice input to manage tabs and perform other actions, and AdBlock functionality will be included by default.

"Ask Comet to schedule a meeting or send an email based on something you read. Ask Comet to purchase something you forgot. Ask Comet to prepare your daily briefing," the company stated in a blog post.

"With Comet, searching becomes a conversation — you think aloud, and Comet handles entire workflows while maintaining perfect context. Research evolves into dialogue. Analysis feels intuitive. Tedious tasks disappear. The internet becomes an extension of your mind."

The Comet browser is currently accessible to users on Perplexity's Max plan, priced at $200 per month. Other users can join a waitlist, and the browser will eventually be made available for free, according to the company’s FAQs.

At present, Comet supports Mac and Windows systems, with plans to expand to other operating systems in the coming months.

OpenAI’s browser on the horizon

According to a report from Reuters citing three anonymous sources, OpenAI is planning to release its own browser in the coming weeks, although the company has not officially commented or responded to inquiries from ITPro.

The report suggests that OpenAI intends to keep users within a ChatGPT-style interface rather than redirecting them to external websites — a move that may negatively impact publishers and potentially lead to copyright-related legal disputes.

This approach is expected to rely heavily on natural language interactions similar to those used in ChatGPT, and may also incorporate AI agents capable of performing actions on behalf of users across different websites.

Reuters also pointed out that an OpenAI executive earlier this year expressed interest in acquiring Chrome if Google were forced to sell it due to antitrust regulations, and noted that the company has hired former Chrome developers.

Privacy concerns emerge with AI browsers

As AI companies rush into the search domain, concerns about privacy and energy consumption are growing. These AI-driven processes demand significantly more computational power than traditional search methods, resulting in higher energy usage.

More importantly, there are ongoing worries regarding data privacy. Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET, emphasized that AI-based data collection introduces new risks compared to conventional search engines.

“Many people are rightly worried about how much personal data OpenAI gathers during its processing and algorithm adjustments,” he told ITPro.

Moore added, however, that users are already familiar with Google’s extensive data harvesting practices, which underpin its search personalization and advertising strategies.

“We shouldn’t forget how much personal data Google has collected over the years—from real-time location tracking to detailed search histories. Google has been closely monitoring user behavior for years, analyzing it for targeted ads, which is central to its business model.”

Despite these issues, Moore sees value in increased competition in the browser space, noting that it fosters a more diverse landscape for data management.

“It’s essential that consumers understand the implications of using AI-powered search engines.”

“Even if the browser promises enhanced privacy, profiling and data sharing may still be integral to its operation. Users should carefully review privacy settings and be aware that they might be exchanging personal browsing habits for convenience.”

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