Another Crazy Day in AI: Can This Browser Replace Google?
- Wowza Team
- Jul 9
- 4 min read
Hello, AI Enthusiasts.
Midweek status check: Are your tabs under control?
Perplexity wants to help—with its new AI-native browser that follows your clicks and offers real-time help on the side. Think search meets smart assistant… with a hint of digital overreach.
Also rolling out: free AI training for teachers across the U.S., courtesy of Microsoft and OpenAI. The tech is coming to classrooms—ready or not.
And while you’re returning that rental, AI’s snapping photos, spotting scuffs, and maybe tagging you with unexpected damage fees.
Here's another crazy day in AI:
Perplexity builds its own window to the web
Tech giants back AI training for America’s teachers
Rental car returns now come with A.I. surveillance
Some AI tools to try out
TODAY'S FEATURED ITEM: The New AI Browser from Perplexity
Image Credit: Wowza (created with Ideogram)
What happens when a browser doesn’t just display the internet, but starts participating in how you use it?
Perplexity has launched Comet, a new AI-powered web browser that brings its signature search and assistant tools into a single interface. Reviewed by TechCrunch’s Maxwell Zeff, Comet is currently available to users on Perplexity’s $200 Max plan and a small group of early testers. The browser integrates Perplexity’s AI natively, positioning it not just as a new search option, but as a possible rethinking of how users interact with the web.
Comet features a built-in assistant that lives in a side panel and responds to whatever you’re viewing. It can summarize emails, review calendar events, navigate pages, and pull up relevant information without needing to switch tabs or apps. The idea is to embed support into the browsing experience itself, allowing for more seamless and contextual interaction. But that level of integration also means users must grant the assistant deep access to their digital activity.
From the article’s hands-on look:
Comet launches with Perplexity’s AI search engine built in and set as the default.
The assistant can "see" what’s on your screen and offer help directly based on it.
It performs reasonably well with basic tasks like summarizing emails or calendar events.
Using the assistant involves granting access to emails, calendars, tabs, and more.
Complex tasks, like booking services or comparing detailed options, showed signs of inaccuracy.
Comet arrives at a time when other companies, including OpenAI and The Browser Company, are also exploring AI-first browsers.
Zeff’s hands-on time with Comet makes clear that while the browser introduces meaningful ideas, it is still working through some practical limitations. The assistant performs well when the task is clear and contained. But as complexity increases, so do the chances for mistakes. Errors around dates and misunderstood instructions show that real-world application still requires oversight. It is helpful, but not fully dependable.
What is more complex is the tradeoff between convenience and access. For Comet to offer in-context help, it needs to be deeply embedded in your digital environment. That is a decision many users will not make lightly. As tools like this become more common, the question will not just be whether they work, but whether they work in a way people are willing to trust. Comet offers a glimpse into what is technically possible, but also reminds us that usefulness and comfort do not always arrive at the same pace.
Read the full article here.
Check out Comet here.
OTHER INTERESTING AI HIGHLIGHTS:
Tech Giants Back AI Training for America’s Teachers
/Paresh Dave, Senior Writer, on WIRED
Microsoft, OpenAI, and the American Federation of Teachers are launching a first-of-its-kind $23 million National Academy for AI Instruction, offering free AI training for K–12 educators across the country. The initiative aims to help teachers adapt responsibly and creatively to fast-moving AI technologies that are already shaping classrooms. Courses will cover responsible use, lesson planning, and evolving job-readiness skills. But the effort also raises questions about the role of tech giants in public education and whether this collaboration puts commercial interests too close to the curriculum.
Read more here.
Rental Car Returns Now Come With A.I. Surveillance
/Gabe Castro-Root, Travel Reporter, on The New York Times
AI is now scanning your rental car... and even tiny scratches might cost you. Companies like Hertz are using high-res imaging and AI tools from firms like UVeye to automate damage detection, leading to surprise charges for issues as small as a shadow. While the systems promise fairness and transparency, some customers feel blindsided by fees for damage they didn’t notice or cause. As rental agencies expand the rollout, the tech is raising fresh concerns about consumer trust and accountability.
Read more here.
SOME AI TOOLS TO TRY OUT:
OpenSearch – Like Perplexity, but tailored to you using your personal supermemory.
Clueso – Turn raw screen recordings into polished product videos and how-to docs with AI.
Candidate.ly – Reformat resumes into branded recruiter-ready PDFs in seconds.
That’s a wrap on today’s Almost Daily craziness.
Catch us almost every day—almost! 😉
EXCITING NEWS:
The Another Crazy Day in AI newsletter is on LinkedIn!!!
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