TLDRs;
- Perplexity has made its Comet AI browser free for public use after a successful limited launch in July 2025.
- CEO Aravind Srinivas says Comet can replace the need for hiring additional staff by automating digital tasks.
- Economists warn of potential over-investment as tech giants pour hundreds of billions into AI infrastructure.
- Comet joins a growing list of AI browsers, competing with OpenAI’s Operator and Google’s Gemini.
Perplexity AI has made its long-awaited Comet browser publicly available to users worldwide, marking a significant step in the growing integration of artificial intelligence into everyday digital tools.
Initially rolled out in July 2025 as an exclusive feature for Perplexity Max subscribers, Comet is now free for all users , a move the startup hopes will accelerate adoption and redefine how individuals and companies manage online workflows.
At the heart of Comet’s design is the promise of productivity. CEO and founder Aravind Srinivas described the AI-driven browser as a “true personal assistant” that helps users perform more tasks in less time.
“Instead of hiring one more person on your team, you could just use Comet to supplement all the work that you’re doing,” Srinivas said in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box on Friday.
Boosting Output Without Expanding Headcount
Srinivas believes the tool could significantly enhance organizational efficiency by automating routine digital tasks such as research, document creation, and summarization. According to him, the potential productivity gains could translate to roughly $10,000 worth of extra output per employee per year.
The broader economic implications, Srinivas said, could be massive. He estimated that “human digital knowledge work” currently contributes around $25 trillion to the global economy, meaning a 20% boost from AI integration could add $5 trillion to global GDP.
While that projection remains speculative, industry experts acknowledge that AI tools are already reshaping how companies operate. Businesses across sectors are deploying AI assistants and copilots to streamline operations, reduce manual workloads, and improve service delivery though many economists, including Goldman Sachs’ Jan Hatzius, note that the labor impact remains “limited” for now.
Economists Urge Caution Amid AI Optimism
While the outlook appears promising, not everyone is convinced the AI boom will translate into immediate economic windfalls. Chicago Federal Reserve President Austan Goolsbee echoed Srinivas’ optimism but cautioned that rapid AI infrastructure spending could trigger over-investment risks.
“We should think about what happens if the growth rate of AI is not as large as its biggest proponents think,” Goolsbee said. “Might we get over our skis a bit with over-investment and have to clean up if there were a bubble?”
Despite these warnings, demand for AI infrastructure shows no signs of slowing. Major tech players including Meta, Amazon, Microsoft, and Alphabet are expected to spend a combined $320 billion on AI technologies and datacenter expansions in 2025 alone.
Competition Heats Up in the AI Browser Space
Perplexity’s Comet now joins a growing list of AI-enabled browsers designed to redefine user interaction with the web. Earlier this year, OpenAI released its web agent Operator, while Google integrated its Gemini AI directly into Chrome.
Unlike its competitors, however, Comet emphasizes asynchronous multitasking, allowing users to conduct research, write summaries, and manage projects simultaneously.
Srinivas said the goal is not just speed, but empowerment. “It’s truly about delivering value and enabling people to delegate work to an intelligent assistant.”
The company reported that its July waitlist for Comet included millions of users, reflecting strong anticipation for AI-integrated browsing. With the browser now freely available, Perplexity hopes to capture a broader audience and solidify its position as a frontrunner in the evolving AI productivity market.
