Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas says Google Chrome should not be 'forced' on Android users

Just days after launching its new AI-powered Comet browser, Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas is stirring the pot with a timely critique of Android’s browser defaults. In a pair of pointed tweets, Srinivas said Chrome shouldn’t be “forced” as the default on Android, arguing instead that users should be prompted to choose their preferred browser during onboarding. He even shared a mock-up with options like Firefox, Edge, and Brave—all visible alternatives to Chrome.

The timing isn’t subtle. Perplexity recently unveiled Comet, an AI-first browser built to make search feel conversational and context-aware. While still in its early stages, Comet aims to merge browsing and querying in a single experience — more Copilot than Chrome. But for the browser to grow, it needs a shot at being discovered. And on Android, that’s not exactly easy.

Google has long faced scrutiny — especially in the EU — for how it promotes its own apps like Chrome and Search. While antitrust fines have occasionally forced changes, the default experience on most Android phones still tilts heavily toward Google’s ecosystem. And that, according to Srinivas, isn’t just unfair—it’s anti-choice.

Perplexity’s entry adds a new wrinkle to the ongoing “default wars.” While rivals like Firefox and Brave have chipped away at Chrome’s dominance, none have truly shifted the default browser conversation. Comet’s success may hinge less on its features and more on whether the platform gatekeepers open the door.