Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas warns iPhone users not to download the Comet app currently on the App Store: Here’s why

Aravind Srinivas

Aravind Srinivas, the CEO of Perplexity AI, has warned iPhone users about a fake app claiming to be Comet, which is currently listed on Apple’s App Store. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Srinivas said, “The Comet app currently on iOS App Store is fake and spam and not from Perplexity. You will directly hear from us when Comet iOS is ready for pre-registering and downloading.”

The clarification comes after growing buzz around Perplexity’s upcoming AI browser, Comet, which Srinivas has teased as the “first real competition to Safari” on iPhones. Earlier this month, he revealed that the company is working on an iOS version of Comet, following the success of its Android app. The announcement had tech enthusiasts excited, as it could finally bring some competition to Apple’s long-dominant Safari browser.

Safari has remained the default choice on iPhones largely because Apple requires all browsers on iOS to use its own WebKit engine. However, Srinivas believes Comet can stand out by using AI to make browsing smarter and more efficient. He described Comet as a “dynamic copilot” that helps users find answers faster while keeping sources transparent.

Perplexity AI, best known for its conversational search platform, has been positioning itself as a user-focused alternative to ad-heavy tools like Google. The company’s upcoming browser is expected to blend search and navigation in a more intuitive way, helping people explore the web in real time.

Srinivas’ warning aims to protect users from misleading apps as excitement builds around the official Comet iOS release. For now, he has urged users to wait for official confirmation from Perplexity before downloading any app claiming to be Comet.