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. Comet, built on Chromium, uses AI to summarize content, automate tasks, and give direct answers instead of 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 meant, but here’s how it compares with Google Search and Chrome:

• Indian Comet Search Engine:

• • • Approach: AI-powered search tailored for Indians with multilingual support and local business focus, unlike Google’s global 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, Comet has a built-in AI assistant that understands context, summarizes content, and automates tasks. Google’s Gemini integration in Chrome is less seamless, often popping up in a separate window.

  • Search Experience: Comet, powered by Perplexity, gives direct, sourced answers—unlike Google’s ad- and SEO-heavy results.

  • Privacy: Stores data locally with an ad blocker, unlike Chrome’s tracking for ad personalization.

  • User Experience: Minimalist, distraction-free design with tab management and smart suggestions, avoiding Chrome’s clutter. However, its high subscription cost and occasional AI errors (e.g., in complex tasks) limit its edge.

  • Market Position: Comet, built on Chromium, uses AI to summarize content, automate tasks, and give direct answers instead of just links.

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.