Introduction

AI… It’s wild how fast this all became normal. 

One minute we were figuring out what ChatGPT even is, and the next, it’s in our phones, browsers, inboxes, calendars, and group chats. We didn’t resist it. We adapted. Fast. Not because we had to, but because it actually works.

There’s no more “is this real?” It is. We’ve moved on to “okay, how do I use it better?”

Because if you want to grow, adapt, or frankly, just keep up, you don’t have a choice. 

Use it. Learn it. Make it work for you.

Here’s one simple tip: while you sip that first coffee of the day, skip the Reels and TikToks. Instead, search for what’s new in AI. Trust me, there’s always something new. Every. Single. Day. And if you pay attention, you start to notice what’s actually worth your time.

And this morning? What stopped me mid-scroll was Comet.

I’ve liked Perplexity from the start. But Comet? It’s a different kind of impressive. A browser that doesn’t just help you search, it helps you do things. Plan, decide, move faster. 

Sounds amazing, right?

But then… a tiny voice in your head whispers: "What’s the catch?"

Because in tech, there’s always a catch.

So yeah, this blog is about Comet. But also about the direction we’re heading, and the questions we’re not asking enough.

Welcome to Comet: The AI browser that knows you too well

Comet launched in July 2025, backed by tech giants like Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and SoftBank. It’s built on Chromium, yes, the same engine as Google Chrome, but adds an AI sidebar that acts like a concierge for your digital life.

Comet doesn’t just help you find information. It interacts with it. It offers summaries of articles, auto-fills forms, suggests email replies, finds better flight deals, and even reschedules meetings with one click. It’s productivity on steroids.

But this convenience comes with a hefty price tag: $200/month. That’s more than many people pay for their entire suite of streaming services combined. So why are early adopters still so excited?

Because it works. And it feels like the future.

Until you start reading the fine print, or notice that there isn’t any.

The invisible price tag: your privacy 

Here’s where things get messy. Perplexity’s CEO has confirmed that Comet will track nearly everything you do outside the browser, from the restaurants you search to the products you buy, to the places you plan to visit.

The goal? To build a complete behavioural profile that enables ultra-targeted advertising.

Think Google Ads, but instead of tracking just your searches, it sees your entire digital life. Purchases. Subscriptions. Travel plans. That late-night panic search about weird symptoms. All of it.

And to make it worse? There’s currently no dedicated privacy policy for Comet. The latest version of Perplexity’s policy was published before the browser even launched.

So what exactly are they collecting? Who are they sharing it with? How long is it stored? What happens if their policies change later?

Right now, we don’t know.

The trade-off we keep making 

This isn’t the first time we’ve traded privacy for convenience. Facebook maps our relationships. Google maps our habits. TikTok maps our subconscious. We gave up those boundaries slowly, sometimes unknowingly.

But Comet might be something else entirely. It wants to be the only browser you use. The only search engine. The only assistant. It doesn’t just know your browsing history—it knows your entire life.

If the web used to be a map, Comet is trying to be your GPS. Your driver. Your mechanic. Your fuel station. All in one.

So what happens when the GPS starts nudging you toward sponsored destinations? Or when the driver subtly adjusts your route based on what advertisers want you to see?

What could go wrong and what might go right

We’ve seen this story before. It never ends cleanly.

• Local data isn’t immune
  Even if your data is stored “locally,” it’s still on a machine connected to the internet. It can be hacked, leaked, accessed by the wrong plugin, or accidentally shared during a system update. Local doesn’t mean locked down. It just means it hasn’t left your device—yet.
  
  
• Policy changes happen
  A tool that feels safe today can shift direction overnight. A new round of funding, a leadership shakeup, or a change in regulation can turn today’s "we don’t sell data" into tomorrow’s "we’ve partnered with select platforms to enhance your experience." You won’t always be notified. And even if you are, the update usually comes buried in a long email you’ll probably ignore.
  
  
• Surveillance creep is real
  Today you’re getting helpful suggestions. Tomorrow it’s subtle nudges—what to read, what to buy, how to think. It’s not always obvious. That’s the point. Over time, it shapes your habits, opinions, and even your decisions, based on patterns it thinks it knows about you. At some point, it stops assisting and starts steering.
  
  

Still, it’s not all bad news.

Tools like Comet can save you time, help you focus, and make the internet less overwhelming. If you're juggling work, research, and endless tabs, it can feel like a lifeline. AI can help you do more with less effort, especially when it works quietly in the background without slowing you down.

So yes, things could go wrong. But they don’t have to.

The real challenge isn’t the technology. It’s how we use it. Whether we keep paying attention. Whether we ask better questions, demand real answers, and decide what trade-offs we’re actually okay with.

Because AI isn’t going anywhere. But we still get to decide how far we let it in.

Choose ѕour оwn AI аdventure 

So where does this all go?

Some realistic possibilities:

• Bundling AI with hardware. Rumors suggest Perplexity might partner with phone makers like Samsung or Motorola to preload Comet on devices.
• Pay-with-data pricing tiers. "Free Comet" might come with high tracking, while "Pro Comet" promises privacy—for a fee.
• Integration creep. Comet becomes the default browser, search engine, calendar, and email platform. One app to rule them all.
• Regulatory backlash. GDPR-style reforms might force clearer disclosures. Or outright ban certain types of behavioral tracking.
• Public rebellion. Like with WhatsApp or Zoom, users might leave in droves if they feel misled or manipulated.

None of these futures are science fiction. Some are already starting.

This isn’t just about Comet 

Comet is just one piece of a much larger movement.

AI is slipping into every corner of our lives. It’s already:

• It’s writing emails, essays, and resumes
• It’s answering customer tickets before a human ever sees them
• It’s designing websites in minutes
• It’s diagnosing diseases doctors can’t yet explain
• It’s generating code while you sleep
• It’s powering robots in factories, hospitals, and even kitchens
• It’s simulating voices so real you have to double-check they’re not human
• It’s composing music, making art, animating films
• It’s building startups, giving therapy, pitching VC decks
• It’s even reading bedtime stories—or creating new ones on the spot

Every day, AI takes over another small task we didn’t realize we’d hand off. At first it feels like a shortcut. Then, suddenly, it’s the default.

This isn’t just about one tool or browser. It’s about what it means to live in a world where the assistant is always on. Where the line between helping and deciding starts to blur.

Here are just a few recent developments that might make your jaw drop:

1. Anthropic's Claude may be partially conscious: Internal estimates suggest Claude 3.7 has a small but non-zero chance of being sentient.
2. AI fighter jets: A European startup has logged 1 million hours of AI flight simulations—for combat jets.
3. Bioweapon design AI: Systems like ENDAR can detect bioengineered threats. But they could also be repurposed to create them.
4. AI talking to pets? Yes, new research in the UK is decoding animal communication using AI.
5. The 'Dead Internet' theory: A growing portion of the internet is now believed to be AI-generated—not written by humans.

The big questions 

As the AI wave continues, we have to ask ourselves:

• How much of our life do we want automated?
• Can we enjoy the magic of AI without surrendering control?
• Is convenience worth the cost of being constantly watched, nudged, profiled?
• And perhaps most pressingly: Will we even notice when we’ve crossed the line?

Shiny things always come at a cost 

Comet is bold. It’s beautiful. It’s probably the most impressive browser you’ve never used.

But it’s also a mirror. It reflects how much we’re willing to give up for ease. It asks us what kind of internet we want.

Do we want AI that helps us think?
Or AI that replaces our thinking?
Do we want tools that serve us?
Or systems that shape us?

Comet may very well be the beginning of something huge.

Just make sure it isn’t the beginning of the end of your digital autonomy.

Choose wisely. Read the fine print. And never forget: when the product feels magical, you might just be the trick.

Read our previous blogs to learn more about AI! 

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