A search startup Permanence Providing its new comate browser available to everyone in the world for free as it works in a product position against large browsers and search engines. For some paid customers, the startup has also launched a new “background assistant” to handle several tasks through the comet.
Perplexity first launched comets for customers of its $ 200-month maximum scheme three months ago, and since then, “millions” signed up on the weightlist to download the browser. The main feature of the comate is a sidecar accessory that connects with you while browsing, can help you answer any questions you have made about the web page, summarizing the content, manage web materials and help you navigate the web pages on your behalf.
Perplexity moves to free the comet, which fights to compete against newcomers such as both incumbents such as Google Chrome and the browser company’s AI-operated browser Dia. It comes beyond the much -awaited of Openai AI-Trained browser launched,
In front of such a competition, Perplexity will need to prove that the agent capabilities of the comate work firmly. Because without tangible productivity benefits, people can be less keen to switch to their existing browsers.
For free users, the comet browser experience of Perplexity is still limited to Sidecar accessory. All user can also reach various devices such as the Discover (similar to the new pulse of Openai) (similar to the recommendations of personal news and content); Slights (to organize and manage various projects); Shopping (Helps to compare prices and find deals in online retailers); Travel (provides information collected on travel sites, flights, housing, etc.); Finance (equipment for budget, monitoring of expenditure, investment monitoring); And the game (update on score, schedule and news).
Max users get access to high -performance AI models and use email accessories of perplexity, promising to draft and write the reactions matching your tone; Give and prioritize your inboxes; Schedule meetings; And answer questions about your inbox.
Max users also have a quick access to perplexity products and features, including a new “background assistant”, which was announced by CEO Arvind Srinivas at an event on Wednesday evening.
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A company spokesperson described the assistant as a “team of assistants working for you”, which you can manage and track from central dashboard such as “Mission Control”.
The auxiliary background performs many tasks on your computer, while you do other work or walk away to make sandwiches. In an example, a spokesperson gave me, you can give a task to send an email to the assistant, add the cheapest ticket to a concert in your car, and find the best direct flight on a specific date and time. You can check the progress of completion of work in the dashboard and jump to complete the tasks – such as sending, intervening, or taking on emails. The assistant will inform you when he has finished his work.
The background assistant also has a “better connector”, so according to the spokes, it may use other apps on your computer. Techcrunch asked for more nuances about cases of use and where background auxiliary thrives.
Free comate users can also buy $ 5-5-month standalone membership for Comat Plus, an upcoming product, aimed at providing an AI-Enhanced option for Apple News. Pro users (who pay $ 20-month for advanced AI models, image and video generations, file uploads and analysis, etc.) and maximum users will automatically get access to comate plus.

