
Aravind Srinivas, CEO of AI startup Perplexity has now issued a public warning for iPhone users. Srinivas has urged the iPhone users to not to download a version of the Comet app presently listed on the Apple App Store. Srinivas has called the app ‘fake and spam’ and has also clarified that it is not affiliated with Perplexity and that the official iOS release of Comet is still pending. In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Srinivas wrote, “The Comet app currently on iOS App Store is *fake* and spam and not from Perplexity. You will directly hear from us when Comet iOS is ready for pre registering and downloading.”
Growing buzz, growing confusion
The warning from Srinivas comes at a time when anticipation for Comet, the AI-powered browser from Perplexity is gaining popularity and becoming a ‘first real competition to Safari’ on iPhones. The Android version of Comet has already launched to positive reception, fueling demand for its iOS counterpart. However, Srinivas stressed on the fact that the iOS version of the Comet browser is not yet released by the company. Srinivas mentioned that the versions of the app presently available on the App Store is unauthorized and potentially misleading, and advised users to wait for an official announcement from Perplexity before downloading any app claiming to be Comet.
Perplexity makes Comet AI browser free for all
Recently, Perplexity announced that its popular Comet browser is free for everyone to use. In a post shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter) Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas wrote, “Comet is now generally available to download for everyone (free, Pro and Max users)!” Rival to Google Chrome, the Comet browser is built on Chromium framework, Comet supports popular extensions and bookmarks while introducing intelligent tools to enhance productivity, research, and multitasking. Unlike traditional browsers, Comet goes beyond just displaying websites—it can summarize content, automate tasks, manage workflows, and offer personalized recommendations.Earlier available only to the paying subscribers, the Comet browser now offers its core features to all users at no cost. This includes AI-powered search, contextual recommendations, and integrated tools designed to streamline research and content discovery. The decision to open access reflects Perplexity’s broader mission to democratize AI tools and compete with incumbents like Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.