Comet : India’s new search engine

Why is Comet in the News?

Comet has been making headlines due to claims that it’s a potential challenger to Google’s dominance in search and browsing. Two narratives are driving the buzz: one about a supposed Indian-developed search engine called Comet, celebrated as a “Made in India” alternative to Google, and another about Perplexity’s Comet, an AI-powered web browser launched by a U.S.-based startup with Indian-origin leadership.

What is Comet?

There are two distinct versions of Comet being discussed:

1. Indian Comet Search Engine: Described as a 100% Indian-developed search engine, this Comet is said to prioritize data privacy, support multiple Indian languages, and promote local businesses. It’s framed as part of India’s “Digital India” initiative, aiming to reduce reliance on Google. However, details about its development, creators, or infrastructure are scarce, suggesting it may be more speculative than real.
2. Perplexity’s Comet Browser: This is a verifiable AI-native web browser developed by Perplexity, a U.S. startup backed by Nvidia and Jeff Bezos. Built on Chromium, Comet integrates an AI assistant that can summarize content, automate tasks like booking or emailing, and provide direct answers instead of just links. It’s currently available to Perplexity Max subscribers ($200/month) via an invite-only rollout, with plans for broader access.

How is Comet Different from Google?

The comparison depends on which Comet is being referenced, but here’s how they stack up against Google (focusing on Google Search and Chrome):

• Indian Comet Search Engine:
  • Approach: Claims to offer AI-powered search with a focus on Indian user needs, such as multilingual support and local business promotion, unlike Google’s global, one-size-fits-all model.
  • Privacy: Emphasizes keeping Indian user data within the country, contrasting with Google’s data collection practices, which face scrutiny for tracking and ad personalization.
  • Limitations: Lacks concrete evidence of existence or technical capabilities, unlike Google’s proven infrastructure handling 5 trillion annual queries.
• Perplexity’s Comet Browser:
  • AI Integration: Unlike Chrome, which relies on Google Search and lacks native AI, Comet has a built-in AI assistant that understands page context, summarizes content, and automates tasks (e.g., clearing spam emails or comparing tabs). Google’s Gemini integration in Chrome is less seamless, often popping up in a separate window.
  • Search Experience: Comet uses Perplexity’s answer engine, delivering direct, sourced answers rather than Google’s link-heavy results, which can be cluttered by ads and SEO-driven content.
  • Privacy: Stores data locally and includes an ad blocker, appealing to privacy-conscious users, while Chrome’s tracking for ad personalization is a growing concern.
  • User Experience: Offers a minimalist, distraction-free interface with features like tab management and contextual suggestions, reducing the clutter often found in Chrome. However, its high subscription cost and occasional AI errors (e.g., in complex tasks) limit its edge.
  • Market Position: Chrome’s 68% market share and free access dwarf Comet’s niche, paid model, but Comet’s focus on power users (researchers, professionals) gives it a unique angle.

In summary, the Indian Comet narrative lacks substance to seriously challenge Google, while Perplexity’s Comet offers innovative AI features but faces hurdles in cost and scale. Neither is likely to dethrone Google soon, given its entrenched ecosystem and massive user base.