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Why AI browsers could rewrite online retail strategies
Pexels, ThisIsEngineering
Perplexity has made its AI-powered web browser, Comet, available free for use worldwide. Originally launched in July as a premium product for Perplexity Max subscribers at $200 per month, the decision to remove the paywall comes as Google accelerates its rollout of embedding the Gemini AI model into Chrome – signalling an intensifying race to dominate AI-driven browsing. Google first announced Gemini integration in May 2025 and began rolling it out in September.
Comet is designed not as a link-first browser but as a personal assistant for the web, capable of summarising content, answering questions, and even executing tasks like comparing products or making purchases. If it gains traction, it could disrupt SEO and traditional search strategies for online retailers – potentially driving significant change across the retail industry.
Challenging the SEO paradigm
Search engines have long acted as the primary gateway to product discovery. SEO, paid search, and retail media networks are built around this behaviour model. AI browsers like Comet challenge that paradigm by delivering curated answers and recommendations directly, bypassing conventional listings. Retailers will need to evolve visibility strategies beyond keyword optimisation to ensure products appear in AI-generated responses.
Although Google is clearly moving fast to maintain its dominant role in online search, the rise of AI assistants like Comet could present a significant challenge. Gemini integration enhances existing workflows without radically changing user behaviour, preserving familiar patterns. Perplexity’s approach, by contrast, is AI-first, designed to replace traditional search rather than augment it. Its assistant-like interface prioritises answers over links, which could significantly reduce organic traffic for retailers dependent on Google rankings. If Comet gains traction, consumer expectations may shift toward instant, conversational shopping experiences, forcing retailers to rethink how they present product data and engage customers.
This shift could accelerate the move toward zero-click commerce, where AI handles discovery, comparison, and even checkout in a single interaction. While this presents challenges, it also creates opportunities. Retailers that adapt early by optimising content for AI readability, emphasising transparent product specs, and leveraging conversational commerce will gain a competitive edge. Comet’s free rollout makes this a critical moment for brands to experiment with AI-first engagement strategies.
The bigger picture
Perplexity’s move underscores a broader trend: the browser is becoming an intelligent layer that shapes how consumers interact with the web. For ecommerce, this could mean fewer clicks, shorter paths to purchase, and a new battleground for consumer attention. Retailers that fail to anticipate this shift risk losing visibility in an AI-curated world.
This article was originally published on InternetRetailing.