Invitations to Perplexity’s latest AI-driven web browser, Comet, are among the most sought-
after items on the internet right now. The new product was initially offered to the AI
company’s $200 monthly Max subscribers and a limited number of invitees. However, there
is now an alternative method to move up on the waitlist. On Wednesday, PayPal revealed
that it is providing its customers, including those using PayPal and Venmo, early access to
Comet along with a complimentary one-year subscription to Perplexity’s premium service,
Perplexity Pro, which usually costs $200 annually.
The browser, which debuted in July, provides an integrated AI assistant, AI-created
summaries of search results, product comparisons, and additional functionalities.
Although a co-marketing partnership usually isn’t noteworthy, this agreement merits attention
due to PayPal’s capacity to showcase Comet to millions of U.S. consumers, and eventually,
an even larger international audience.
The agreement is a component of a broader collaboration between PayPal and the AI
provider, offering advantages to both firms in various aspects. Earlier this summer, the two
firms collaborated on agentic commerce within Perplexity’s platform, enabling PayPal or
Venmo to make instant purchases when they requested the AI to locate products, arrange
travel, or purchase tickets.
For PayPal, the agreement may attract users to its applications by offering the Comet invite
and complimentary subscription, while also highlighting a new subscriptions hub feature that
allows users to view and manage all their recurring subscriptions in one place. In addition,
PayPal has a promotion offering $50 to users who connect and pay for a minimum of three
subscriptions using its platform.
At the same time, Perplexity receives heightened visibility as AI agents compete for focus,
and AI-driven browsers seek to challenge a market largely controlled by Chrome. It might
also aid Perplexity in acquiring additional paid subscribers, as users may forget to cancel or
choose to remain subscribed once the free year of Perplexity Pro concludes.
PayPal and Venmo users can access the offer directly in their apps to obtain the
complimentary 12-month subscription and Comet invitation. Each PayPal account is limited
to a single invitation, and users must not be existing Perplexity Pro customers.
“Our partnership with Perplexity gives PayPal and Venmo customers early access to one of
the most anticipated AI browsers and dynamic subscriptions,” stated Diego Scotti, general
manager of the Consumer Group at PayPal, in an official statement. “It’s exciting to deliver
offers and tools that our customers request most, meeting their needs and helping them
navigate their financial lives with greater simplicity, added convenience, and even more
rewards.”
According to PayPal, the offer is valid until the end of 2025 and is exclusively for U.S.
customers at launch. It will launch in global markets later this month. Once customers
register for Perplexity Pro, they will get details on how to quickly download and set up the
Comet browser.
The subscriptions hub is accessible this week to all customers in the U.S. following a
previous ramp-up phase.
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