The ongoing conflict between Google and the US Department of Justice (DOJ) has sparked discussions about the possibility of future smartphones arriving without the ubiquitous Google Chrome browser pre-installed. While the DOJ is investigating claims of Google’s monopoly in search and digital advertising, this development seems unrelated to legal actions. Rumors have circulated previously about changing the default browsers on mobile devices. Enter Perplexity AI, an Nvidia-backed startup that aims to compete with Google through its AI-centric search engine.
Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, revealed that the company is in discussions with major brands such as Samsung and Apple to pre-install its new Comet browser. This could significantly enhance its user base by capitalizing on the tendency of consumers to stick with pre-installed applications rather than seeking alternatives. Srinivas acknowledged that persuading device manufacturers to shift from established browsers like Chrome poses significant challenges. User habits are deeply ingrained when it comes to mobile browsing, as many people tend to utilize whatever browser comes by default—typically Chrome for Android users and Safari for iPhone owners.
Currently, Comet is in its beta phase and is only available for desktop users. It integrates web browsing with Perplexity’s AI features, allowing users to access personal data such as emails and calendars while also enabling tasks like calendar scheduling and web page summarization. The startup anticipates targeting “tens to hundreds of millions” of users by 2025, banking on a broader industry trend of incorporating AI into browsing experiences. As Comet progresses, it faces competition from other innovations, including reports of OpenAI developing its own AI-powered browser capable of automating various tasks.
With Chrome holding a dominant 70% market share in mobile browsing, the landscape could soon shift, but only time will tell how these changes unfold.