Perplexity AI, the fast-growing conversational search platform, has launched a new feature called 'Comet', designed to allow users to perform real-world tasks—such as ordering food—by simply typing natural language prompts. The announcement marks the company’s latest push to redefine how users interact with digital interfaces, going beyond traditional search results to actual task execution.

The company’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, stated that the goal is to build an AI system that doesn't just answer queries but also performs tasks that matter to users in their everyday lives. “We want to move from passive answers to active assistance,” Srinivas stated. Comet is currently live for some users in the U.S. and is expected to expand to other regions in the near future.

From Search to Action: What Comet Can Do

Comet is positioned as an intelligent assistant that can understand nuanced prompts like “I want to order sushi for dinner tonight” and return actionable results such as restaurant options, menu recommendations, and direct links to complete the order. The system is designed to integrate with food delivery apps and services, automating steps that traditionally required multiple clicks or app switching.

The product is part of Perplexity's broader ambition to build a “task-oriented AI layer” over traditional search. The move also mirrors similar efforts by companies like Google, OpenAI, and Amazon to make AI more transactionally useful.

A Growing Shift Towards Utility-Driven AI

With Comet, Perplexity is tapping into a wider trend in the generative AI space—shifting from pure content generation to real-life task enablement. While most chat-based AI tools are still focused on summarizing or answering, Comet’s utility-first approach could significantly expand the scope of what consumers expect from AI.

This focus on actionable output is a major differentiator in a crowded AI landscape. Instead of merely pointing users to food delivery websites or suggesting restaurant names, Comet can initiate actions on the user's behalf, making it more than just a chatbot or search tool.

Market Implications and Competitive Context

Perplexity’s move comes at a time when giants like Google and OpenAI are investing heavily in multimodal agents and voice-based assistants that integrate with daily tasks. In particular, Google’s Bard/Gemini and ChatGPT’s voice and plugin capabilities have signaled a race to own the AI command layer of everyday life.

However, Perplexity’s strength lies in its clean, ad-free user experience and a focus on precise, citation-backed responses—qualities that have earned it a growing user base among tech-savvy professionals and students.

Comet extends that trust factor by ensuring the AI doesn’t hallucinate when taking real-world actions—a key concern when AI transitions from information to execution.

Looking Ahead

Perplexity has not revealed a timeline for Comet’s global rollout but emphasized that the feature will gradually support other services such as travel bookings, shopping, and appointment scheduling. If successful, Comet could position Perplexity as a go-to utility layer for users looking to cut through digital friction.

With AI increasingly becoming part of daily routines, tools like Comet could signal the next phase of evolution—from assistants to agents.