Perplexity has switched to an upgraded voice mode for the Comet browser. Desktop users can try it out right now. iOS users will have to wait a few more days. The update puts everything in your hands. Open the site, scroll through the pages, and follow the links. By saying it all.
Press Shift + Alt + V on desktop or Shift + Option + V on Mac. The same tool will soon be released for iPhone, making Comet the first mobile browser you’ll never need to touch.
This feature runs on OpenAI’s latest real-time models. CEO Aravind Srinivas announced the launch of X and thanked OpenAI’s multimodal team. The goal is not just voice search, but full browser navigation via voice.
Built on OpenAI’s latest voice technology
This voice mode uses OpenAI’s gpt-realtime-1.5 model, built for low-latency voice agents. Srinivas praised the OpenAI team, and Perplexity claims that tool call stability has improved by more than 25%. This means fewer execution errors when you actually ask the browser to do something. Your voice will also be heard better at a speed suitable for longer listening sessions.
Why Full Voice Control Matters Now
Most browsers treat voice like a party trick. Say your query and the results will appear, then tap them. Comet wants your voice to carry through the entire session. Ask about what’s on the screen. Try saying, “Scroll down and open the third link, summarize this page, and compare it to the left tab.” No keyboard required.
The timing is perfect for the transition to ambient computing. The perplexity is that we are convinced that the web will work better when we talk to it. This feature is currently enabled on desktop.
Comet also takes a different privacy stance. We process speech locally where possible and don’t store click history in the cloud by default. No ad tracking profiles are created from your browsing.
What to watch for in the future
Desktop users can test voice mode starting today. For iOS, it will be released around March 11th based on the App Store pre-order list. The real question is whether the controls feel natural, not just in the demo but throughout real-world work.
Embarrassment is already creating more. Comet Assistant learns your preferences and can help you shop, order food, or find flights based on your usual activities. A synchronization between your password manager and your device is in progress. Android users are waiting for this. For iOS, this voice upgrade is just the first step.