AI-powered web browsers want to help people save time. But are they effective?

NBC News

2 days ago

First they took care of your writing. Now, artificial intelligence systems are looking to do your web browsing for you.
A new slate of AI-powered web browsers have come onto the scene, as AI companies look for more ways to integrate their tools into daily life.
Perplexity AI's web browser, Comet, launched on Wednesday to much fanfare from some tech circles, as early users tested out its capabilities. It enters a crowded space, which includes products like Dia, Google's Gemini in Chrome, and a reported upcoming browser from ChatGPT creator, OpenAI.
Perplexity touts Comet, available only to those on the company's $200-per-month tier, as a 'thought partner' that helps users accomplish tasks without having to do the work of actually browsing. In tests, NBC News found that the browser can book reservations, prepare online purchases and plan a full vacation. But the process wasn't as seamless as it appears in the demos.
The browser is part of an escalating race to advance AI agents, or AI systems that can make decisions and take action on a user's behalf. When users chat with a tool like Claude or ChatGPT, they type a question and get a response, but they still need to decide what to do with the answer. An AI agent, however, will send questions directly to the browser and even generate new ones based on its knowledge about you and make decisions proactively.
A browser-native AI might try to learn your routine; for example, when you eat lunch. When lunchtime arrives, it can automatically order one of your favorite meals or even reserve a table at your favorite restaurant.
Comet opens to Perplexity's AI search engine and its AI operates in a sidebar. In tests conducted by NBC News, Comet was able to assist in tasks like applying to jobs, buying a new outfit and booking a gym visit. But it often required intervention from the user, largely due to privacy restrictions that prevent it from accessing and inputting personal information without a human taking the final steps.
When trying to make a purchase online, for example, the Comet assistant stated that it can't directly conduct any transactions, though it offered to assist in other ways, such as tracking down deals or comparing products. It can also add items to the user's cart.
'For your privacy and security, I cannot accept, process, or store any personal or payment information, and I am not able to complete transactions or purchases on your behalf,' the assistant wrote. 'This policy protects your sensitive data and ensures safe, responsible use of this assistant.'
And when asking the browser assistant to apply to a job on Indeed, it navigated to the site, selected a job and started the application process — though it needed the user to log into the site on their own. It then told the user, 'You will still need to review and submit any application yourself, especially if the application requires personal details or verification steps that only you can provide.'
The browser did, however, successfully book a gym tour — with some extra prodding. When first asked to book the tour, Comet claimed a visit had been scheduled. When pushed for confirmation, it revealed that it had only landed on a 'placeholder or a pre-selection' page. Asking it to book again prompted the assistant to request the required information from the user before filling out and submitting the form in real time within the browser.
Comet also appears capable of understanding multiple tabs at once. When asked to compare a selection of gyms based on the user's open tabs, it produced a chart comparing membership prices of the gyms whose websites were open in the browser.
Perplexity says the browser will roll out to additional users over the summer through an invite-based system before eventually becoming free for use.
AI agents have become more common on the internet this year as companies have added the tools to their websites. Expedia's AI travel agent is already capable of planning itineraries and booking trips. And Walmart in June launched an AI shopping assistant that can make recommendations and, soon, will help shoppers reorder products or book services.
The agents arrive as adoption of generative AI surpassed adoption of the internet and personal computers at similar points of their development. It is also winning over key consumer demographics: trust in AI was 60% among individuals ages 18 to 24 and 62% among those earning over $100,000 a year, according to a Rutgers University-New Brunswick survey.
Some expect artificial intelligence to replace search engines, with Apple Senior Vice President Eddy Cue testifying that Google searches fell in Safari for the first time in history in April 2025 and linking that drop to AI.
In its efforts to keep up with the AI web revolution, Google has rolled out an 'AI Mode' in its search engine and now offers its Gemini assistant as an add-on in Chrome. But Comet more broadly integrates its AI functions into the default web interface.