Aravind Srinivas says dominance by Google risks stifling innovation and pushes his company’s Comet browser as an alternative

San Francisco — Tuesday, October 27, 2025

In a pointed message to the tech industry, Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of the AI search startup Perplexity AI, declared that the internet “is not Google’s alone,” urging for a more open and competitive ecosystem of search and browsing. His remarks mark a direct challenge to the dominance of Google LLC in shaping how billions of users access information.

Srinivas made the statement in a post on the social platform X (formerly Twitter), accompanying the launch announcement of Perplexity’s AI-powered browser, Comet. He argued that letting Google remain the “primary gatekeeper” poses risks not only to consumer choice but to innovation across the internet. He said: “Let’s not leave the internet in Google’s hands — it is too big, too important, and it must be open.”

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A Challenge to the Status Quo in Search and Browsing

For years, Google has held a dominant position in both search and browser markets, controlling the majority of how users find and consume information online. Perplexity’s new browser makes a strategic play at the heart of that dominance. The company’s Comet browser harnesses AI-driven responses and an integrated assistant interface, effectively re-imagining browsing as a conversational experience rather than a series of links.

Beyond product innovation, the tone of Srinivas’s public remarks signals a broader mission: to decentralize access to the web from entrenched gatekeepers. His call for openness reflects growing scrutiny around monopolistic control, platform power, and how search results are shaped by commercial incentives.

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Why the Timing Matters

Srinivas’s commentary and Perplexity’s browser launch come amid heightened regulatory attention on big tech and search monopolies. Google faces antitrust probes in multiple jurisdictions over how it controls search, advertising, and browser markets. Against that backdrop, Perplexity presents itself not only as an alternative browser and search engine but as a champion of a more open internet architecture.

His assertion that the internet “is not Google’s alone” resonates with critics who argue that a single company’s dominance can stifle competition, limit innovation and reduce user control. By positioning Perplexity as a contender, Srinivas is signaling ambition beyond simply capturing market share — he is framing the shift as ideological.

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What Comet and Perplexity Are Offering

• AI-Based Browsing Experience: Comet integrates Perplexity’s search engine and AI assistant to enable users to ask natural language questions, receive summaries and take action (booking, purchasing, etc.) through a unified interface rather than navigating multiple links.
• Independent Infrastructure: While built on Chromium, Comet differs in its intent to break the link-ad revenue model that underpins Google’s browser and search ecosystem. Analysts cite the potential for this model to disrupt how users access information online.
• Open Web Advocacy: Underpinning the product is a narrative that the web should be accessible, competitive and not controlled by a single entity. Srinivas frames this as a core principle for his company’s mission.

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The Risks and the Pushback

Srinivas’s message, while bold, raises questions — and from a “no-bull” perspective, it’s not without flaws. If Perplexity is advocating openness, it still must contend with how it handles data, advertising and monetization. Some reports indicate that the company’s browser may collect extensive data for personalised ads. TechCrunch

Furthermore, dominating Google’s domain is easier said than done. Google has entrenched user habits, brand trust and vast infrastructure. Perplexity’s ambition is significant, but execution and user adoption remain obstacles. Arguably, criticizing Google for dominance while building a competing product that may follow a similar model (subscription + data collection) raises questions about consistency.

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What to Watch Going Forward

1. User Adoption Trends – Will Comet attract significant market share away from established browsers like Google Chrome? Early uptake and retention metrics will be key.
2. Monetisation Model – How Perplexity plans to generate revenue (subscriptions, ads, data) will reveal whether its openness rhetoric is matched by practice.
3. Regulatory and Competitive Response – Will Google or regulators respond to Perplexity’s challenge, either via product improvements or legal scrutiny?
4. Data & Privacy Practices – If Comet aggressively collects user data, it risks undermining the openness message; user trust will matter.
5. Broader Impact on Search Ecosystem – If Perplexity gains traction, it could pressure how search results are curated, how content is monetised and how publishers adapt to AI-driven interfaces.

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