One AI prompt, two white collar jobs ‘gone': Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas's bold claim sparks debate

Time of India

5 days ago

In a recent podcast appearance, Perplexity AI CEO
Aravind Srinivas
outlined a bold new direction for white-collar automation with the launch of Comet, an AI-powered browser that may soon carry out the work of recruiters and administrative assistants with a single prompt.
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The new browser, still in invite-only beta, is designed to integrate with everyday platforms like Gmail, LinkedIn, Google Calendar, and Google Sheets. Srinivas demonstrated how
Comet
is capable of managing complex workflows, from identifying and contacting potential job candidates to handling follow-ups, organising meetings, and resolving scheduling conflicts.
The project reflects a broader shift in how artificial intelligence is beginning to take over roles that were once thought to require a high degree of human input.
By running background tasks continuously and following natural language instructions, Comet could make it possible for businesses to automate essential office functions that were previously the domain of skilled professionals. Srinivas described this development not as a far-off possibility but as something that is already happening in part—and which could be fully operational in less than a year.
AI tool Comet could replace a recruiter's week of work with 'one prompt'
Recruiting is one of the most process-heavy areas of modern business.
It involves screening profiles, gathering contact information, reaching out to candidates, tracking communication, and scheduling interviews. Traditionally, this work takes days of effort by recruiters and coordinators. Comet aims to condense that into a single prompt. According to Srinivas, a recruiter's entire week of work could be replicated through automation that identifies ideal candidate profiles, drafts personalised messages, and manages all the follow-up without manual oversight.
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For instance, Srinivas explained how Comet could search for a specific group of professionals—such as Stanford alumni who previously worked at Anthropic—compile their LinkedIn information into Google Sheets, and automatically write tailored outreach emails. As the responses come in, Comet can log the status of each lead, schedule calls using Google Calendar, and even resolve conflicting time slots. The goal is not just to save time, but to redesign the workflow entirely.
Taking over administrative assistant functions
In addition to recruitment, Comet has been built to perform tasks typically handled by executive assistants. These include managing inboxes, preparing documents for meetings, sending reminders, coordinating with multiple calendars, and staying on top of logistics. According to Srinivas, the browser is designed to operate in the background while staying contextually aware of what the user needs.
He described how Comet can follow up on conversations automatically, sync calendars to avoid scheduling errors, and maintain updated status logs across apps.
This isn't basic automation like email templates or keyboard shortcuts. Instead, it involves AI following ongoing tasks, reasoning across apps, and completing multi-step processes with little or no manual input.
Comet as an AI operating system for work
Srinivas also shared his long-term vision for Comet as more than just a browser. He sees it becoming a kind of operating system for white-collar productivity—something that runs quietly in the background, ready to handle user commands in plain language.
This AI would not just assist, but take initiative in coordinating, tracking, and executing tasks across platforms.
To emphasise the potential value of this approach, Srinivas gave the example of a company paying thousands of dollars for a single AI prompt, if the output helps generate real business results. Comet, in his view, represents the next evolution in digital tools, where the browser becomes a command centre for intelligent, end-to-end automation.
Reactions from the broader tech industry
The announcement and capabilities of Comet have reignited discussions about AI's role in future employment. Other tech leaders have expressed similar concerns and predictions. Dario Amodei, CEO of AI firm Anthropic, has estimated that half of all entry-level white-collar jobs could disappear within five years due to automation.
Ford CEO Jim Farley has also publicly stated that artificial intelligence may replace 50 percent of white-collar workers.
However, not all industry voices agree on the scale or impact.
Marc Benioff of Salesforce and Jensen Huang of Nvidia maintain that AI will serve as a tool for human enhancement, not outright replacement. In that context, Comet may be seen either as a threat to jobs or as a way to boost productivity without increasing headcount. What is clear is that the introduction of tools like Comet is already changing how work gets done.
Comet's current availability and pricing
At present, Comet is being rolled out as an invite-only beta available to premium subscribers of Perplexity. The premium tier, which includes access to Perplexity's advanced features, is priced at around $200 per month. Srinivas mentioned that future pricing may be structured around value-based billing. In practical terms, that means businesses may be charged based on the value they gain from the AI's output rather than just usage hours or prompt limits.
Although the browser is still in development, Srinivas suggested that its core functions—especially those related to recruiter and assistant roles—will become fully automated within the next six to twelve months. This timeline suggests that companies and workers may need to prepare sooner than expected for significant changes in workflow and job design.
A shift in the nature of work
Comet represents more than just a new app or productivity tool.
It shows how artificial intelligence can be integrated into something as familiar as a browser to perform meaningful work tasks across multiple platforms. Unlike past generations of AI that required specific APIs or single-purpose tools, Comet functions like a worker that can read your email, understand your calendar, communicate through your apps, and make real-time decisions.
Srinivas emphasised that the people who embrace tools like Comet are likely to remain relevant in the job market.
Those who avoid or delay using AI may find themselves falling behind. This isn't simply about learning how to use software. It's about rethinking the role of humans in an AI-assisted professional landscape.