Perplexity's AI Search Hits 780 Million Queries Fueling New Comet Browser

Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine, has experienced explosive growth, processing 780 million queries in May alone. CEO Aravind Srinivas shared at Bloomberg’s Tech Summit that the platform is growing over 20% month-over-month, a trajectory that could lead to a billion queries per week within a year. This growth is remarkable considering the platform started with just 3,000 queries in a single day back in early 2022.

The company’s ambitious expansion includes the development of Comet, a new browser designed not just to provide AI answers but to perform entire browsing sessions through AI-driven actions. Srinivas describes Comet as a "cognitive operating system" rather than just another browser, aiming to seamlessly hybridize client and server computing to complete complex tasks with a single prompt.

This approach represents a paradigm shift: moving from traditional browsing, where users manually search and navigate, to a proactive AI assistant that lives alongside users, anticipating needs and completing actions. Srinivas emphasizes that as people increasingly live their lives online, the browser must evolve to support personalized, persistent AI interaction.

Comet will integrate features like native virtual meeting recording, transcription, and searchable archives, enhancing productivity and user engagement. Although these features won’t be in the initial release, they are planned for rapid follow-up updates. The launch window is estimated between three to five weeks from mid-May 2025.

Beyond user experience, Comet aims to enable Perplexity to track activity beyond its own app, opening new revenue streams through premium advertising similar to Google’s model. This strategic move could position Perplexity as a formidable competitor in both AI search and browser markets.

Why Comet Could Redefine Browsing

Traditional browsers act as gateways to the web, but they require users to manually search, click, and navigate. Comet’s vision is to embed AI deeply into the browsing experience, turning it into a proactive assistant that can complete multi-step tasks with a single command. Imagine asking your browser to plan a trip, book tickets, and organize your calendar seamlessly—this is the future Perplexity envisions.

This shift requires rethinking the browser’s architecture to hybridize client and server computing efficiently, ensuring low latency and high reliability. It also means AI must be persistent and personalized, living alongside users as a cognitive system that understands context and preferences.

Srinivas’s vision reflects a broader industry trend where AI is moving beyond static responses to dynamic, action-oriented assistance. Comet could be a pioneering example of this evolution, potentially reshaping how users interact with the internet daily.

Implications for AI and Internet Use

Perplexity’s rapid query growth highlights the increasing demand for AI-enhanced search experiences. By integrating AI deeply into browsing, Comet could increase user retention and engagement significantly, offering a more intuitive and efficient way to navigate the web.

For businesses and developers, this signals a shift toward designing AI systems that do more than answer queries—they must act on behalf of users, integrating seamlessly into daily workflows and digital lives.

Moreover, the ability to track and monetize user activity across browsing sessions opens new business models for AI companies, emphasizing the importance of privacy-conscious yet effective data strategies.

In summary, Perplexity’s journey from a modest search engine to a potential AI-driven browser pioneer illustrates the transformative power of AI in reshaping internet interaction. Comet’s launch could mark a new chapter where AI doesn’t just answer questions but actively manages digital experiences.