Comet Browser: My Honest First Impressions as an Early Tester

As someone deeply interested in digital tools that streamline research and professional productivity, I recently had early access to test Comet, the upcoming AI-native browser from Perplexity. I’m not affiliated with the company, nor is this a sponsored review—just my honest perspective for fellow tech enthusiasts and professionals.

How Is Comet Different from Regular Browsers?

Unlike traditional browsers such as Chrome or Firefox, Comet is built from the ground up with AI at its core—not as an add-on, but fully integrated and always accessible.

New Capabilities That Stand Out:

• Integrated AI Assistant: Comet features a Perplexity-powered sidebar that goes far beyond basic search. It can instantly summarize web pages, answer complex clinical or research questions, and even automate tasks such as organizing tabs by topic or generating summaries for academic articles and guidelines.
• Intelligent, “Agentic” Workflows: Comet’s assistant doesn’t just suggest or find information—it can take direct action within the browser. For example, it can navigate between tabs, extract key details from multiple sites, manage emails, or even schedule calendar events without your manual input. This agentic browsing is a step beyond standard automation, aiming to handle mundane digital chores so you can focus on decision-making.
• Productivity and Research Impact: For medical professionals, researchers, or anyone dealing with large volumes of information, Comet compresses the process of reviewing multiple tabs or sources into a matter of minutes. Features like one-click summarization of clinical guidelines, patient forums, or scientific papers offer practical benefits that go beyond what regular browsers provide.
• Customization and Compatibility: Because Comet is built on Chromium, it supports familiar extensions and web standards, letting you keep your favorite tools while adding privacy controls and integrations for Gmail, Google Calendar, and more.

Where There’s Room to Grow:

• Learning Curve: Some AI-powered features are new territory for most users and might require a bit of exploration.
• Privacy Considerations: As with any browser leveraging online AI, it’s important to understand what data may be shared with third-party services.
• Performance and Pricing: The AI sidebar may add slight lag or require extra screen space, and some advanced capabilities could be behind a paywall, unlike the mostly-free experience of Chrome or Firefox.

Comet’s AI-powered capabilities may offer notable benefits for physicians and healthcare providers by streamlining the process of gathering and synthesizing clinical information. With features such as instant summarization of research articles, guidelines, and patient discussions, as well as the ability to organize and manage multiple tabs efficiently, Comet could help clinicians access key insights more quickly and stay organized in fast-paced medical environments. While each user’s workflow is different, these tools have the potential to support evidence-based decision-making and optimize how information is managed in everyday practice.

Bottom Line

Comet introduces a new era where an AI assistant isn’t just a feature but a true co-pilot—automating repetitive web tasks, synthesizing knowledge, and making complex workflows almost effortless. While still evolving and best suited for those comfortable with new technology, it offers a compelling vision of what productivity-focused browsing can become. As an early tester and digital health professional, I’m excited by its potential and encourage anyone interested in future-ready tools to take a look.