Perplexity Enhances Comet Assistant with Multitab Multitasking and User‑Permission Controls
Key Points
- Comet can now operate across multiple browser tabs at once.
- Enhanced ability to tackle complex, multi‑step quests.
- Introduces a permission prompt before direct browser actions.
- Internal tests show a 23% increase in successful task completion.
- Longer attention span improves handling of branching instructions.
- Designed to act as a background assistant for busy web users.
- Maintains user control while automating repetitive tasks.
- Still requires supervision for full project execution.
Perplexity has upgraded its Comet AI assistant to handle tasks across multiple browser tabs, tackle more complex multi‑step quests, and ask for user permission before taking direct actions. The update extends Comet’s attention span, improves its web awareness, and adds a control layer that keeps users in the driver’s seat. Internal tests show a 23% boost in successful task completion, positioning Comet as a more capable background helper for web research and digital paperwork.
Expanded Multitasking Across Browser Tabs
Perplexity’s latest release equips the Comet Assistant with the ability to work across several open browser tabs simultaneously. Where earlier versions required users to flip between tabs for research, data entry, and reference, the new Comet can monitor and act on multiple sites at once. This enables it to handle more demanding, multi‑step quests—such as comparing flight deals on several airline pages in a single request—without constant micromanagement.
Longer Attention Span and Sharper Web Awareness
The upgrade gives Comet a longer attention span and a more nuanced sense of the web environment. By staying aware of the context across tabs, the assistant can follow branching instructions that need continuity and follow‑through, making it more reliable for complex tasks that involve several steps and sources.
User‑Permission Controls for Direct Browser Actions
Recognizing that greater capability demands greater trust, Perplexity added a user‑control layer. When Comet detects that a task could be streamlined by directly clicking links, filling out forms, or extracting data, it now asks for explicit user permission before proceeding. This consent persists for the duration of the task, ensuring users remain firmly in control while still benefiting from automation.
Performance Gains Demonstrated in Internal Testing
Internal benchmarks reveal a 23% improvement in successful task completion compared to the previous version. The most notable gains appear in the assistant’s ability to complete long, branching tasks that require maintaining context over time. These results underscore the practical impact of the longer attention span and multitasking features.
Practical Implications for Everyday Users
For typical web users juggling many tabs, the enhanced Comet acts like a background assistant that notices the chaos and offers to clean it up. It can extract data from portals, track attendance records, or compile information across sites, reducing the mental load on users. While competitors experiment with autonomous AI helpers, Perplexity’s approach focuses on practical, supervised assistance that respects user intent.
Limitations Remain
Despite the advances, Comet cannot yet run an entire project without supervision and may still miss nuanced priorities. Users must continue to guide the assistant, but the new features bring it closer to reliable, hands‑free assistance within defined limits.