TL;DR
Perplexity has launched its AI-native Comet browser on iOS, extending the desktop and Android app to iPhone users. The browser combines traditional search results with Perplexity’s answer engine and includes voice mode, deep research capabilities, and an AI assistant that can take actions — from booking appointments to filling out forms.
More Than a Browser
Comet positions itself as a hybrid between a web browser and an AI agent. On iOS, it delivers traditional search results for quick, high-intent queries common on mobile — scores, local businesses, directions — while routing more complex questions to Perplexity’s answer engine for researched, cited responses.
The approach reflects an emerging split in how people use search on mobile devices. Simple lookups get fast results pages, while deeper questions receive synthesised answers with source citations. Users can search for a sports tournament to get live scores, then ask the AI assistant which team is favoured and why, without switching between apps.
Voice and Agent Capabilities
Voice mode is built into the iOS version, allowing users to ask questions hands-free about whatever they are currently viewing. The feature works across open tabs, so the assistant maintains context about the page being read.
The more ambitious feature is agentic browsing. Perplexity says the Comet assistant can research meeting invitees, generate briefing notes, or fill out sign-up forms on the user’s behalf. These capabilities move Comet beyond passive search into active task completion — the same territory that has put Perplexity in legal conflict with Amazon over its shopping agent.
Cross-Device Continuity
Comet syncs research threads across desktop and mobile, allowing users to start a query on one device and continue on another with full context preserved. Perplexity’s full Deep Research engine is also available on the iOS version, bringing the same cited, long-form analysis capability to mobile.
Looking Forward
The iOS launch arrives at an interesting moment for Perplexity: the company is simultaneously expanding its consumer products while defending its agent capabilities in court against Amazon. For UK users, Comet offers an alternative to Safari and Chrome that treats AI as a core browsing feature rather than an add-on — though how Apple’s own AI ambitions will affect third-party AI browsers on iOS remains to be seen.