Users of PayPal and Venmo now have access to Perplexity's highly anticipated AI browser.

In a move that could shake up the browser market, Perplexity has launched a new AI-powered web browser called Comet. Previously available only through a $200-per-month subscription or special invitation, Comet is now accessible to PayPal and Venmo users.

This partnership marks a significant step for Perplexity, as it pits the new browser against Google Chrome in the competitive browser market. However, it's worth noting that Perplexity trails behind ChatGPT and Google's Gemini in the AI market.

Comet offers more than just a browsing experience. It incorporates a chatbot platform that provides detailed answers and source links, positioning itself as a "personal shopper and personal assistant all in one." Users can now purchase products and services directly within the Perplexity platform, a feature that could attract more users to PayPal's platform, potentially strengthening the partnership.

PayPal users will receive a free yearlong subscription to Perplexity's premium tier, Perplexity Pro, as part of the partnership. However, the PayPal release did not specify whether the same functionality will exist within Comet.

Mastercard and Visa have also entered the AI-powered shopping scene with their platforms, Mastercard's Agent Pay and Visa's Intelligent Commerce, both of which have the autonomy to make payments. The technical aspects of agentic commerce are significant and require addressing for the system to operate effectively.

Recently, Perplexity made an unsolicited offer to buy Chrome for $34.5 billion, an offer lower than the leading browser's valuation. The vision of the AI agent in Comet, as discussed by Christopher Miller, Emerging Payments Analyst at Javelin Strategy & Research, is that of a comprehensive personal shopper and assistant.

As Perplexity aims to use these offers to drive users to its new subscription hub, the future of AI-powered browsing and shopping looks set to become increasingly competitive.

Users of PayPal and Venmo now have access to Perplexity's highly anticipated AI browser.