AI search startup Perplexity, backed by Nvidia and other high-profile investors, is looking to take on Google directly in the mobile space. The company is in talks with smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its new Comet AI browser on devices, CEO Aravind Srinivas revealed in an interview with Reuters.

Perplexity aims to leverage the power of browser “stickiness” — the tendency of users to stick with default apps — to expand its reach and integrate AI-powered browsing into everyday mobile experiences. “It’s not easy to convince OEMs to switch from Chrome,” Srinivas admitted, referencing the dominance of Google’s browser and the resistance from phone makers to change pre-set defaults.

Currently in beta and limited to desktop users, Comet is a browser with built-in AI capabilities that allow users to interact with personal data, summarize webpages, manage schedules, and more — all through natural language. Srinivas said the goal is to roll out the mobile version once the desktop platform stabilizes, with hopes of reaching “tens to hundreds of millions” of users by next year.

The initiative places Perplexity in the middle of a larger industry trend toward “agentic” AI — systems that can independently carry out complex tasks with minimal user input. OpenAI is reportedly building a similar AI-driven browser designed to automate processes like booking trips and handling finances.

As of June, Google Chrome commands nearly 70% of the mobile browser market, with Apple’s Safari and Samsung’s browser taking up most of the rest, according to Statcounter. Breaking into that space will be a challenge, but pre-installation agreements could offer a key entry point.

Earlier reports from Bloomberg suggested Perplexity was in discussions with both Apple and Samsung to integrate its AI search capabilities into their devices — possibly enhancing built-in voice assistants like Siri and Bixby.

The company recently closed a $500 million funding round, valuing it at $14 billion. Its investor list includes heavyweights such as Nvidia, Accel, Jeff Bezos, and former Google CEO Eric Schmidt — a signal of growing interest in alternatives to traditional search and mobile browsing experiences.

With Comet, Perplexity is not just offering a new browser, but reimagining how users interact with the web through AI — and betting that mobile integration will be the next leap forward.