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AI chatbots start talking with each other using Perplexity

Comet browser enables AI-to-AI conversations in customer support chats on July 14, 2025.

Luis Rijo

• 8 min read
AI robot using laptop for automated customer support chat through Perplexity Comet browser interface
AI robot using laptop for automated customer support chat through Perplexity Comet browser interface

A Perplexity user demonstrated the Comet browser's AI agent capabilities by having it autonomously handle a FedEx customer support interaction, marking a practical application of browser-based AI automation for routine customer service tasks. The demonstration occurred on July 14, 2025, just five days after Perplexity's official Comet browser launch.

According to user Aditya, the Comet browser AI agent "literally took over my FedEx customer support chat and handled everything for me—tracking my package, speaking with the live agent, and the whole deal." The interaction was captured in a video demonstration showing the AI agent operating independently within the customer support chat interface.

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summary

Who: Perplexity AI user Aditya demonstrated Comet browser's AI agent capabilities while CEO Aravind Srinivas promoted the customer support automation functionality. The demonstration involved Perplexity's Comet Assistant and FedEx customer service representatives.

What: The Comet browser AI agent autonomously handled a complete FedEx customer support chat interaction, including package tracking, communication with live agents, and managing the entire customer service process without human intervention.

When: The demonstration occurred on July 14, 2025, five days after Perplexity's official Comet browser launch on July 9, 2025, and represents the first documented public use case of the browser's customer support automation capabilities.

Where: The interaction took place through the FedEx customer support chat system, accessed via Perplexity's Comet browser, demonstrating the AI agent's ability to operate across external websites and service platforms.

Why: The demonstration highlights practical applications for AI browser automation in routine customer service tasks, potentially reducing time spent on repetitive interactions while showcasing Comet's capabilities for premium subscribers of Perplexity's $200-per-month Max plan.

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Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas responded to the demonstration by suggesting users "let Comet handle the customer support reps for you" while noting that "customer support is already a lot of AI anyway." This comment highlights the growing prevalence of AI systems in customer service environments, where automated responses and chatbots have become standard practice across many industries.

The demonstration represents the first documented public use case of Comet Assistant performing complex, multi-step customer service interactions since the browser's July 9, 2025 launch. Perplexity announced Comet browser initially for subscribers of its $200-per-month Max plan, targeting premium users and power customers requiring advanced browsing capabilities.

Technical capabilities and limitations

According to TechCrunch testing, the Comet Assistant demonstrates proficiency in simple tasks including answering questions about visible webpage content and providing summaries of documents or social media posts. The AI agent operates through a sidebar panel that appears alongside webpages, enabling real-time analysis of current page content.

However, early evaluations reveal significant limitations in complex multi-step processes. TechCrunch's hands-on testing found the assistant struggles with accurate date entry and booking confirmations for services such as airport parking reservations. The FedEx customer support demonstration suggests the AI performs better in structured chat environments compared to form-based interactions.

The browser requires extensive system permissions to function at full capacity. Users must grant Perplexity access to view screens, send emails, access contacts, and modify calendar events before utilizing advanced assistant features. These permission requirements create potential privacy considerations for users evaluating the browser's implementation.

Comet Assistant's ability to handle customer support interactions builds on established AI frameworks for autonomous browsing tasks. Google's September 2024 whitepaper outlined foundational components enabling AI agents to interact with external systems through model layers, orchestration layers, and tools layers working together to process information and determine appropriate actions.

Market implications for customer service automation

The successful FedEx interaction demonstrates practical applications for AI browser agents in routine customer service scenarios. Customer support interactions often follow predictable patterns involving information retrieval, status updates, and basic problem resolution—tasks well-suited to AI automation capabilities.

Customer service departments across industries have increasingly adopted AI chatbots and automated response systems to handle routine inquiries. The Comet demonstration extends this trend by enabling users to deploy their own AI agents for customer support interactions, potentially reducing time spent on repetitive service requests.

Industry analysts note that customer service automation has accelerated significantly throughout 2024 and 2025. LangChain's six-stage framework for production AI agent development addresses enterprise adoption challenges by emphasizing Standard Operating Procedure design before technical implementation, reflecting growing business interest in reliable AI automation.

The demonstration occurs amid broader developments in AI agent capabilities for business process automation. Enterprise teams including Product Owners, Subject Matter Experts, Engineers, and Support staff are implementing structured agent development methodologies to address prototype-to-production transition failures in AI systems.

Competitive landscape and browser automation

Perplexity's Comet browser enters a competitive market where multiple companies develop AI-powered browsing experiences. The Browser Company launched Dia in June 2025, offering similar AI integration features. OpenAI has reportedly considered developing its own browser, hiring former Google Chrome team members throughout 2024 and early 2025.

The customer support automation capability differentiates Comet from traditional browsers by enabling users to delegate routine interactions to AI agents. This approach aligns with Perplexity's broader vision for developing comprehensive AI infrastructure, including recent acquisition of the OS.ai domain for operating system development.

Browser-based AI automation represents a significant shift from app-specific AI assistants to system-wide automation capabilities. Traditional AI assistants operate within specific applications or platforms, while browser agents can interact with any web-based service or customer support system.

Market adoption depends partly on user willingness to grant extensive system permissions and trust AI agents with sensitive interactions. The FedEx demonstration suggests users may accept these requirements for routine, low-risk customer service tasks where automation provides clear time savings.

Technical architecture and implementation

Comet runs on Chromium architecture and supports Chrome extensions while allowing users to import existing settings and bookmarks from current browsers. This compatibility reduces adoption friction compared to browsers requiring complete workflow changes or losing existing customizations.

The browser integrates Perplexity's AI search engine as the default search provider, positioning AI-generated search summaries prominently within the browsing experience. This integration enables the assistant to access comprehensive web information when handling customer support interactions or other automated tasks.

According to Perplexity's internal metrics, the company processes 780 million queries monthly as of May 2025, representing over 20% month-over-month growth. This query volume provides substantial data for training AI agents to handle diverse interaction scenarios, including customer support conversations.

Security considerations become increasingly important as AI browsers gain capabilities to interact with external systems. Comet Assistant's ability to view screen content, access email accounts, and participate in chat conversations creates potential vulnerability points requiring robust protection mechanisms and user trust.

Business model and monetization implications

The browser launch aligns with Perplexity's broader monetization strategy combining advertising implementations and premium subscription tiers. The company launched its Max subscription tier on July 2, 2025, providing unlimited access to advanced AI models including OpenAI's o3-pro and Claude Opus 4 for $200 monthly.

AI agent capabilities like customer support automation provide tangible value propositions for premium subscribers. Users can quantify time savings from delegating routine interactions to AI assistants, potentially justifying subscription costs through productivity improvements.

The advertising industry has watched Perplexity's monetization developments since the company began testing advertising formats in November 2024. The platform introduced sponsored questions and side media placements, partnering with companies like Indeed for job-related advertising integration.

Srinivas previously described his vision for Comet as developing "an operating system with which you can do almost everything," enabling Perplexity's AI to assist users across multiple applications and websites. Successful customer support automation validates this comprehensive assistant approach.

Regulatory and privacy considerations

Browser-based AI agents raise data privacy questions as they require extensive system access to function effectively. The FedEx interaction demonstrates capabilities requiring screen viewing, chat participation, and potentially accessing personal information shared during customer support conversations.

Perplexity has addressed content attribution concerns through publisher revenue-sharing programs and citation transparency measures in its search products. Browser integration may intensify regulatory scrutiny as AI agents gain capabilities to interact with external services and handle sensitive user data.

The company faces ongoing regulatory considerations as AI search capabilities gain prominence. Perplexity's data collection strategy has drawn comparisons to established tech companies' approaches, raising questions about whether AI companies offer genuine alternatives to existing privacy practices.

European regulations including the AI Act may impact how browser-based AI agents operate, particularly regarding data processing and automated decision-making capabilities. Companies developing AI browser technologies must navigate evolving regulatory frameworks while maintaining functionality and user experience.

Future implications for digital interactions

The successful customer support automation demonstrates potential for AI agents to handle increasingly complex digital interactions. As AI capabilities improve, users may delegate more sophisticated tasks including booking reservations, managing subscriptions, and conducting research across multiple websites.

Analysis indicates AI agents may eventually become primary advertising targets rather than human users, fundamentally altering digital marketing approaches. Browser-based agents capable of autonomous interactions could accelerate this transformation.

Customer service departments may need to adapt protocols for AI agent interactions as adoption increases. Current systems designed for human customers may require modifications to accommodate AI agents representing users in support conversations.

The demonstration timing coincides with broader industry movement toward AI-integrated experiences across platforms. Google has deployed multiple AI features within Chrome throughout 2024 and 2025, while Microsoft continues developing AI capabilities within Edge browser architecture.

Technical performance metrics will prove crucial for widespread adoption of browser-based AI automation. Users expect reliable execution of delegated tasks without errors that could damage relationships with service providers or compromise personal information.

According to industry analysis, AI search visitors demonstrate 4.4 times higher conversion value compared to traditional organic search traffic. This trend suggests users willing to adopt AI tools may represent high-value market segments for businesses.

Market analysts anticipate AI browser competition will intensify throughout 2025 and 2026 as multiple companies recognize browsers as critical distribution channels for AI services. Success will likely depend on seamless AI integration rather than browser engine innovation alone.

Perplexity's browser pricing strategy limits initial adoption to high-value subscribers, suggesting the company aims to validate demand among power users before broader market expansion. This approach allows testing of capabilities like customer support automation among users most likely to provide constructive feedback.

The company achieved a $9 billion valuation in December 2024, marking rapid growth since its August 2022 founding. This financial position provides resources for ambitious technical projects like browser development and AI agent capabilities.

Enterprise adoption of AI automation continues expanding across industries. Recent frameworks address systematic approaches to production AI agent deployment, indicating growing business interest in reliable automation solutions.

Browser-based AI agents represent a logical extension of existing automation trends, providing users with tools to delegate routine digital tasks while maintaining control over more complex interactions requiring human judgment and oversight.

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