Meet Comet: The AI-Powered Browser with Built-In Perplexity
Not long ago, I wrote a blog on a browser called Barve - Link (Brave Browser Review. My Go-To for Privacy & Speed) for keeping trackers at bay, blocking annoying ads, and giving us a speedier internet experience. Brave is fantastic, and we still highly recommend it.
But in the fast-paced world of technology, I recently came across another exciting Browser.
Imagine taking Brave's world-class ad blocking and pairing it with the smartest AI search engine on the planet—Perplexity. That is exactly what Perplexity has done with their brand-new desktop browser, Comet.
If you are a small business owner looking to cut through the digital noise, save time on research, and boost your daily productivity, Comet might just be your new favourite tool. Let’s dive into what makes this browser so special and how you can get it set up in minutes.
Why We are Excited About the Comet Browser
Comet isn’t just Chrome with a fresh coat of paint. It is an "AI-native" browser, meaning artificial intelligence is woven right into the fabric of how you surf the web.
Here are the features we are absolutely loving:
1. 🧠 Built-In Perplexity AI (Your Ultimate Research Assistant)
Instead of opening a new tab, going to a search engine, typing a question, and sifting through pages of blue links, Comet lets you chat with Perplexity directly from your browser. You can ask it to:
Summarise long articles or PDFs: Got a dry 50-page industry report? Ask Comet to give you the key takeaways in bullet points.
Explain complex topics: Instantly understand complicated tax changes, legal terms, or technical jargon on any page you are viewing.
Draft quick replies: Highlight text on a screen and ask Comet to help draft a professional response.
2. 🚫 Built-In Ad and Tracker Blocking (The "Quiet Web")
Just like Brave, Comet features powerful, built-in ad blocking. It automatically stops intrusive pop-ups, trackers, and those loud pre-roll video ads on YouTube before they even load.
The benefit? A cleaner, distraction-free screen that lets you focus on your actual work.
Plus, it’s secure: By blocking trackers, you prevent big tech companies from building a silent profile on your business browsing habits.
3. ⚡ Blazing Fast Page Speeds
When you stop a website from loading dozens of heavy tracking scripts and flashing banner ads, magic happens. Webpages load almost instantly. For a busy business owner, saving even a few seconds per page load adds up to hours of saved time and less frustration over the course of a month.
4. 🧩 All Your Favourite Extensions Still Work
Comet is built on the Chromium engine—the same underlying technology behind Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Brave. This means you don’t have to give up anything. All your favourite Chrome extensions, password managers, and tools will work perfectly right out of the box.
Comet in Action: A Real-World Business Example
Let’s look at a classic, time-consuming chore that every business owner dreads; comparing overhead costs like business/home electricity plans.
We have all been there. You have five different tabs open from five different energy providers. Each website is crammed with confusing terminology, daily supply charges, varying peak and off-peak tariffs, and "conditional discounts" buried in the tiny print. Trying to make a fair, "apples-to-apples" comparison usually involves a messy spreadsheet, manual calculations, and a mild headache.
Here is how you can tackle this headache in seconds using Comet:
1. Open your comparison tabs: Simply open up the pricing pages of the electricity providers you are considering.
2. Call in your AI co-pilot: Press `Ctrl + Shift + L` (on Windows) or `Cmd + Shift + L` (on Mac) to summon Comet’s built-in Perplexity assistant.
3. Ask for a side-by-side breakdown: Type a simple, natural prompt like:
> "I have several tabs open for business electricity providers. Please look at these open tabs, compare their peak rates, off-peak rates, daily supply charges, and contract lengths, and present them in a clean, consistent comparison table. Summarise which option is best for a small retail office that operates from 9am to 5pm."
4. Get the clear winner: In seconds, Comet’s integrated AI reads the active websites, cuts through the marketing spin, extracts the exact rates, and serves up a neat, consistent table with a recommendation tailored specifically to your business hours.
What used to take an hour of painstaking copy-pasting and manual comparison is reduced to a simple, two-minute chat. That is the power of having an AI built directly into your browser!
How to Set Up Comet: A Step-by-Step Guide
Ready to give it a spin? Setting up Comet is incredibly simple. Here is how to get started:
Step 1: Download and Install
1. Head over to the official Perplexity website or search for the Perplexity Desktop/Comet browser. https://www.perplexity.ai/comet
2. Download the installer file for your operating system (it works beautifully on both Windows and Mac).
3. Open the downloaded file and follow the quick, automated installation prompts.
Step 2: Bring Over Your Digital Workspace
Optional; You don't need to start from scratch! On your first launch, Comet will ask if you want to import your data.
1. Select your previous browser (like Chrome, Edge, Safari or Brave).
2. Choose what you want to import—bookmarks, saved passwords, and history.
3. Click Import, and within seconds, Comet will feel exactly like your old browser, only smarter.
Step 3: Say Hello to Your AI Co-Pilot
Once installed, the real fun begins. There are two main ways to use the built-in Perplexity AI as you browse:
The Shortcut: Press `Ctrl + Shift + L` (on Windows) or `Cmd + Shift + L` (on Mac) to bring up the Perplexity search bar instantly, no matter what website you are on.
The Page Query: Click the Perplexity icon in your address bar to ask questions specifically about the page you are currently reading. Try asking: *"What are the main pricing tiers on this page?"* or *"Summarise this article in three sentences."*
Step 4: Customise Your Privacy
To make sure you are getting the full ad-blocking benefit:
1. Go to Comet’s Settings menu (click the three dots or gear icon in the corner).
2. Look for the Privacy and Security section.
3. Ensure the built-in ad and tracker blocker is set to Standard or Aggressive (for the ultimate ad-free experience).
The I.T. Savvy Verdict
At I.T. Savvy, we are always on the lookout for tools that help small businesses operate more efficiently. Brave is still our champion for pure, lightweight privacy, but if you find yourself constantly researching, writing, or using AI in your day-to-day workflow, Comet is a game-changer.
By combining robust privacy shields with a world-class AI companion, Comet helps you find answers faster, work smarter, and keep your business safe from digital clutter.
Have you given Comet a try yet? If you need help modernising your team's digital workspaces, setting up secure browsers, or optimising your business technology, [get in touch with I.T. Savvy today] (https://www.itsavvy.com.au/). We are here to make business tech simple, friendly, and human-first.*
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