Srinivas argued that artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving beyond assisting with small, repetitive tasks. Instead, AI tools like Perplexity’s newly launched browser, Comet, are capable of handling entire workflows from start to finish. “Humans won’t be doing these tasks anymore—they’ll just tell AI what result they want, and the AI will handle the rest,” he said on the podcast.
Perplexity’s Comet is positioned as more than just a search engine; Srinivas describes it as a full-fledged “AI agent.” The tool can autonomously search for job candidates, compile LinkedIn profiles, gather contact information, and even draft personaliesd outreach emails without any human intervention. Srinivas believes this makes recruiters one of the first professional roles to face significant disruption.
Executive assistants may not be far behind. Srinivas claims Comet can access Gmail and Google Calendar (with user permission), manage scheduling, resolve conflicts, follow up on emails, and prepare summaries ahead of meetings—tasks that traditionally required human effort.
While Srinivas acknowledges these developments raise questions about potential job losses, he is confident that such AI-driven automation represents the future of work. “This will completely change how people work,” he said.
Separately, Srinivas told
Reuters that Perplexity is in discussions with smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Comet on devices—a move that could help the company challenge entrenched players like Google. “It’s not easy to convince mobile OEMs to change the default browser to Comet from Chrome,” he said, noting the challenges of user habits and platform dominance.
Comet, currently in beta and available on desktops, integrates Perplexity’s AI directly into browsing, allowing users to ask questions about personal data and perform tasks such as scheduling or summarising webpages. Srinivas said the company hopes to reach “tens to hundreds of millions” of users next year after stabilising the desktop version.
The push comes as the tech industry shifts toward AI-powered browsers designed to operate with minimal human guidance. OpenAI, for example, is developing its own agentic AI browser to automate complex tasks like booking travel or managing finances, according to Reuters.
Perplexity, valued at $14 billion after a $500 million investment round earlier this year, counts Accel, Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt among its investors.
According to Statcounter, Google’s Chrome currently holds about 70% of the mobile browser market, while Apple’s Safari and Samsung’s browser control another 24%.
In June, Bloomberg reported that Perplexity was in talks with Apple and Samsung to integrate its AI search features into their devices, potentially enhancing virtual assistants like Siri and Bixby.
Also Read: Airtel partners with Perplexity to offer free AI search subscription to users