Welcome to the Age of AI Browsers
- Chris Howell
- Jul 12
- 5 min read
What Is an AI Browser? And Do We Actually Need One?
You know the moment. You Google something simple like “How to renew a UK passport,” and 25 minutes later, you’ve opened 14 tabs, skimmed 9 blog posts, dismissed 2 ads for document scanning services, and still aren’t quite sure what to do. Welcome to the modern internet.
But things are changing. Fast.
Perplexity has just launched Comet, its AI-powered browser. OpenAI isn’t far behind, with its own version on the way. These aren’t just search engines with chatbots bolted on. They’re aiming to rebuild the way we use the internet from the ground up.
Which begs a few questions:
What is an AI browser, exactly?
Why are they launching now?
And do we, humble web users, actually need them?
Let’s unpack this shift—and what it means for you.
What Is an AI Browser?
Think of an AI browser as the next evolution of Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge—except instead of you doing all the clicking, tabbing, and skimming, it comes with a built-in assistant that helps you cut straight to what matters.
It can:
Summarise web pages, articles, and PDFs
Fill out forms and auto-complete repetitive tasks
Book meetings or travel, directly from the page
Provide live Q&A support about the content you’re viewing
Help manage your inbox, calendar, and even content drafts
Suggest related research, save relevant tabs, or compare options
And it does all this via a chat-style interface that lives inside the browser—not as a plugin or extension, but as a native, always-on assistant.
It’s a big upgrade from passive browsing to active, AI-assisted interaction.
Why Now?
Why are these AI browsers arriving in 2025—not earlier, or years from now?
1. The AI Models Are Finally Capable
Thanks to major upgrades in large language models like GPT-4, Claude 3, and Llama 3, the underlying tech is now fast, accurate, and flexible enough to handle nuanced instructions, contextual understanding, and task execution.
These aren’t clunky chatbots. They’re trained agents with memory, intent recognition, and planning capabilities—ready to support complex tasks, not just short replies.
2. User Expectations Have Shifted
We’re used to instant responses from voice assistants. We expect chat-style help from websites. And we increasingly view tabs, forms, and manual web search as digital friction.
People want to do more with less effort—and AI browsing answers that call.
3. The Race to Reinvent the Browser
Chrome still dominates. But competitors are circling. Apple’s Safari and Microsoft Edge are integrating AI. Meanwhile, regulatory pressure is weakening Google’s grip.
Perplexity and OpenAI see a strategic window to offer not just a better browser—but a fundamentally different one.
How Do AI Browsers Benefit Users?
AI browsers aren’t just a nice-to-have. They offer game-changing utility for knowledge workers, students, researchers, freelancers, and anyone who’s tired of digital overload.
1. Less Tab Chaos
AI browsers reduce the need for switching between 10 apps and 30 tabs. Summarise, compare, and act—without bouncing from one site to another. Some even collapse all your work into a unified, project-aware workspace.
2. Smarter, Conversational Searching
You don’t need to think like Google. You can ask natural questions, refine follow-ups, and get human-style summaries. For example:
"What are the steps to renew a UK passport if mine expires in September?"
Instead of a flood of links, you get a concise breakdown, links to official sites, and even a checklist. It’s not just search—it’s support.
3. Proactive and Personalised Help
Modern AI browsers learn from your browsing context. Working on a blog? It might offer SEO tips. Planning a trip? It could suggest flights and remind you to book accommodation.
They don’t just respond—they anticipate.
4. Massive Time Savings
Whether you’re researching, booking, or writing, AI browsers can save hours. Early adopters have reported 30–40% productivity gains.
They cut out repetitive clicks, summarise long content, and automate admin tasks you didn’t even realise were slowing you down.
5. Greater Control Over Privacy
Unlike cloud-first services, many AI browsers offer hybrid or local processing modes. That means sensitive actions—like reading emails or accessing your calendar—can stay on your device.
You decide what gets shared with the cloud, and what stays private.
6. True Agentic Automation
Need to find a train, compare ticket prices, and book one that fits your meeting? AI browsers can handle all of that in a few lines of conversation—no micromanagement required.
It’s like having a personal assistant built into your web experience.
What Makes These Browsers Different?
Feature | Traditional Browser | AI Browser (Perplexity, OpenAI) |
Search | Keyword-based | Conversational + summarised |
Task Automation | Manual | Agent-driven (e.g. book a flight) |
Content Understanding | You read, you skim | AI summarises + explains |
Workflow Integration | Tabs, tabs, more tabs | Unified interface, fewer switches |
Personalisation | Cookies + plugins | Context-aware and proactive |
Privacy | Often unclear | Hybrid (local + cloud), user-controlled |
The result? Less friction. More flow.
Comet by Perplexity: A Real-World Example
Let’s look at one of the new entrants: Comet, by Perplexity.
Comet is a Chromium-based browser built for AI from the start. Its hybrid architecture includes:
Local AI for fast, private tasks (summaries, email help, intent recognition)
Cloud AI for heavier operations like multi-step research or dynamic content analysis
Its built-in assistant can:
Summarise articles or YouTube videos
Compare multiple sites or sources
Book travel or meetings using plain English
Group tabs by topic and close unused ones
Manage your inbox and create draft replies
Comet is currently in paid early access ($200/month for power users), but a broader rollout is expected soon.
So… Do We Need This?
Not everyone. Not yet.
If your web use is light—checking news, watching YouTube, browsing social media—you’re probably fine with what you have.
But if your day involves any of this:
Research and reading
Scheduling and email
Content creation
Admin-heavy tasks
Switching between tabs or apps
Then an AI browser could feel like a huge upgrade.
And if you already rely on ChatGPT or Perplexity, moving that power directly into your browser interface could be a game-changer.
The big picture? Browsers are evolving from passive windows to intelligent copilots.
The Mercia AI Take
At Mercia AI, I help individuals, small businesses, and local communities understand how AI can work for them—not just big tech.
Here’s my honest view:
AI browsers aren’t hype. They’re helpful.
They won’t solve every problem, but they will streamline your digital day.
For digital workers juggling 20 tasks, this could be the browser you’ve been waiting for.
Whether you're a solopreneur, freelancer, or curious learner—this is worth watching.
What Now?
Try Perplexity Comet if you’re curious (early access only for now)
Keep an eye on OpenAI’s browser—likely built around ChatGPT and Operator AI
And if you're wondering how this fits your life, work, or business goals...
Book an AI Discovery Call
Whether you're curious about AI browsers, tools, or just want fewer tabs in your life—I'm here to help. No jargon. No pressure. Just honest, UK-based advice from someone who’s been there.
Let’s make this new browsing era work for you.