Perplexity has just flipped the switch on an improved voice mode for its Comet browser. Desktop users can try it now. iOS users will wait a few more days. With the update you can control everything hands-free. Open websites, scroll through pages, or follow links. All through talking.
On the desktop, press Shift+Alt+V or Shift+Option+V on a Mac. The same tools will soon be available on iPhone, making Comet possibly the first mobile browser you never have to touch.
The feature runs on OpenAI’s latest real-time model. CEO Aravind Srinivas announced the rollout on X and thanked the OpenAI multimodal team. The goal is full browser navigation via voice, not just voice search.
Based on the latest language technology from OpenAI
This voice mode uses OpenAI’s gpt-realtime-1.5 model, designed for low-latency voice agents. Srinivas praised the team at OpenAI and Perplexity claims they have improved the stability of tool calls by more than 25 percent. This means fewer glitches when you ask the browser to actually do something. The voices also sound better and the tempo is also suitable for longer listening sessions.
Why full voice control matters now
Most browsers treat voice like a party trick. You speak a question, the results appear, and then you tap. Comet wants your voice to accompany you throughout the entire session. Ask about what is shown on your screen. Try saying, “Scroll down, open the third link, summarize this page and compare it to the tab on the left.” No keyboard required.
The timing fits with the shift towards ambient computing. Perplexity means that the Internet works better when you talk to it. The feature is now live on desktop.
Comet also takes a different stance on data protection. When possible, it processes speech locally and does not store click histories in the cloud by default. No ad tracking profiles are created from your browsing.
What to watch out for in the coming days
Desktop users can test Voice Mode starting today. For iOS it will be released around March 11th based on the pre-order lists in the App Store. The real question is whether the controls feel natural in real tasks and not just demos.
The helplessness is already increasing. Comet Assistant learns your preferences and can help you shop, order food, or find flights based on your usual activities. A password manager and cross-device synchronization are in the works. This is what Android users are waiting for. For iOS, this language upgrade is just the first step.
