AI Browser Market Intelligence Report
11/18/2025
Starting Week 47, this report shifts to a hybrid publishing model to better match market maturity. Weekly briefings cover strategic developments, lawsuit updates, product launches, and security incidents. Monthly deep dives (published when market data accumulates or significant shifts occur) include full adoption metrics updates with refreshed visualizations and platform cards. The agentic browser market has transitioned from explosive growth phase (Weeks 40-43) to litigation and consolidation phase—strategic intelligence and legal developments now drive the narrative.
Week 47 Strategic Briefing Summary
Week 47 brought significant product milestones and continued legal developments, with Perplexity dominating headlines across platform expansion, commerce partnerships, and security incidents.
📱 Platform Expansion:
Perplexity Comet Android Launch (November 20): Perplexity launched full agentic browser Comet on Android, marking first major player expansion beyond desktop and iOS beta. App includes cross-tab summarization, voice mode, and built-in ad blocker. Android represents ~71% global mobile market share. Perplexity cited high demand from carriers and OEMs for prioritizing Android (TechCrunch).
💳 Commerce Integration:
PayPal-Perplexity Instant Buy Partnership (November 25): PayPal enabled in-chat checkout within Perplexity, allowing users to purchase without leaving the answer engine. Integration launched with major retailers including Abercrombie & Fitch, NewEgg, and Fabletics, backed by 50% cash-back promotion for Black Friday week. First major payment processor integration for agentic browser, direct alternative to Amazon's walled garden approach (PayPal Newsroom).
🚨 Security Incident:
Perplexity Comet Security Vulnerability (November 19-20): Security firm SquareX disclosed critical vulnerability in Comet's MCP API allowing potential system-level command execution. Independently verified by multiple security outlets. Perplexity's response raised concerns: ignored initial private disclosure for two weeks, pushed silent fix only after public release, publicly dismissed research as "fake" while simultaneously patching the issue. Reactive and defensive stance contrasts with previous proactive security measures (HelpNetSecurity, SecurityWeek).
⚖️ Legal Developments:
Amazon Lawsuit Escalation (November): Legal conflict between Amazon and Perplexity escalated from cease-and-desist letter (Week 45) to full lawsuit. Amazon alleges Comet covertly accesses customer accounts and disguises AI activity as human browsing. First major legal battle of agentic browser era, likely setting precedent for AI agent interaction with e-commerce platforms (The Guardian, Fast Company).
📊 Market Data:
No new market share or adoption metrics available. User estimates remain speculative without verified sources.
🎯 Week 47 Analysis:
Product Momentum vs Trust Issues: Perplexity demonstrated execution capability with Android launch and PayPal partnership—both significant distribution and monetization milestones. However, security incident handling damaged trust. Silent patching while publicly disputing vulnerability shows tension between moving fast and maintaining transparency.
Commerce Pathway Clarifies: Two distinct approaches now visible: OpenAI/Target negotiated platform integrations versus Perplexity/PayPal universal payment layer. PayPal partnership enables shopping across any retailer without platform-by-platform negotiations, while Amazon lawsuit challenges this universal access model. Week 47 shows both paths advancing simultaneously.
Android Expansion Significant: Comet on Android represents first major mobile platform expansion beyond iOS beta. Android's 71% global mobile share provides potential reach, though actual adoption metrics unavailable. Desktop-first agentic browsers face mobile usage reality—most web browsing happens on phones.
Security Posture Divergence Continues: Perplexity's reactive response to SquareX disclosure contrasts with previous proactive security updates (Weeks 44-45). OpenAI Atlas and Fellou CE remain unresponsive to verified vulnerabilities. Only Dia maintains consistent security-first positioning. Week 47 reinforces pattern: security response varies dramatically across players.
Legal Precedent in Motion: Amazon lawsuit progression from cease-and-desist to courtroom battle establishes template for platform resistance. Outcome will determine whether agentic browsers can access major e-commerce platforms or must negotiate individual partnerships. Stakes extend beyond Perplexity—every agentic browser faces same platform access question.
Why We're Tracking This
When we said we were going all in on the retrieval layer, we meant it. Our work in Answer Engine Optimization (AEO), Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), and modern SEO services already has us tracking AI referral traffic from chat interfaces—helping businesses figure out where their mystery clicks are coming from.
Now we’re taking it further. We’re documenting the emergence of agentic browsers from the very beginning. Will this become the next big shift in how people browse the web?
AI Browser News
Commerce Wars Erupt: Amazon Blocks Perplexity as Security Responses Stall
Week Ending November 10, 2025: The battleground shifted from browser features to platform access as Amazon sent a cease-and-desist to Perplexity (Nov 4), demanding Comet stop making purchases on Amazon.com. This "battle for the future of commerce" marks the first major legal conflict in agentic browsers. Google expanded Chrome AI Mode to 160 countries (iOS/Android), Perplexity launched a reimagined Comet Assistant (23% better, multi-tab), and Atlas reportedly began Windows rollout. Despite Week 44's validated security crisis, responses were minimal—only Perplexity has shipped security features. Market now at 25-55M NA users with decelerating but steady growth.
- 🌍 Google Chrome + Gemini: GLOBAL EXPANSION - 160 countries (iOS/Android), 5 new languages, 3.5B users worldwide, 7-20M NA users
- 🪟 OpenAI ChatGPT Atlas: WINDOWS ROLLOUT (unverified) - Reported Windows 11 availability, 27.7% enterprise adoption maintained, no security patches, 1-3M NA users
- ⚖️ Perplexity Comet: AMAZON CONFLICT + REIMAGINED - Cease-and-desist from Amazon, new Assistant (23% better), Android beta invites, 4-7M NA users
- 🔄 Opera Neon: No major Week 45 updates, $19.99/month, ODRA deployed (W44), 100K-200K NA users
- 🔒 Dia Browser: No major updates, strong security reputation, $20/month Pro, 100K-250K NA users
Executive Summary
North American Market Size: 25-55M current users (25-22% week-over-week growth, decelerating but steady). OpenAI ChatGPT Atlas maintains 27.7% enterprise adoption and begins reported Windows rollout (1-3M NA users), Google Chrome AI Mode expands to 160 countries with iOS/Android support (7-20M NA users), Perplexity holds 6.6% AI search share (4-7M users) while launching reimagined Comet Assistant with 23% performance improvement and Android beta, Opera Neon maintains premium positioning (100K-200K users), Dia holds steady at $20/month Pro tier (100K-250K users).
Commerce Wars Begin: Amazon sent cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity on November 4, demanding Comet stop enabling purchases on Amazon.com and arguing agents must identify themselves and respect platform decisions. Perplexity countered with "Bullying is not innovation" blog post, claiming agents acting on user behalf have same permissions as users. Forbes called this the "battle for the future of commerce." This precedent-setting conflict introduces new risk layer for agentic browsers: potential exclusion from major e-commerce platforms. Conflict emerges as Amazon protects advertising revenue (Rufus shopping bot) from AI competition optimizing for user preference over sponsored placements.
Security Responses Remain Minimal: Despite Week 44's multi-source validation of prompt injection vulnerabilities, most players have not shipped security patches. OpenAI's November 5 Atlas update included only bug fixes and tab improvements—no security patches despite verified vulnerabilities from Fortune, The Register, and academic research. Fellou CE remains unpatched since August 2025 vulnerability disclosure. Only Perplexity has shipped dedicated security feature (Privacy Snapshot in Week 44). This lack of response stands in stark contrast to the 27.7% enterprise adoption rate, suggesting security concerns have not yet impacted growth trajectory.
Agentic Commerce Optimization (ACO) Emerges: The Amazon-Perplexity conflict has catalyzed a new discipline focused on optimizing for AI shopping agents rather than human searchers. AI agents prioritize structured data, specifications, pricing, and fulfillment over branding and marketing copy—rendering traditional SEO playbooks obsolete. Market showing continued maturation: legal frameworks emerging (Amazon precedent), platform gatekeeping battles beginning, six-week compound growth of 525-1000% since Week 40. Winners will be those who navigate both unresolved security challenges and emerging platform access conflicts while maintaining the productivity benefits driving rapid adoption.
AI Browser Developments
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⚖️
AMAZON CEASE-AND-DESIST - Amazon sends legal letter to Perplexity (Nov 4) demanding Comet stop enabling purchases on Amazon.com. Amazon's position: agents must identify themselves and respect platform decisions. Perplexity responds with "Bullying is not innovation" blog post. First major platform-vs-agent legal conflict
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🌍
CHROME GLOBAL EXPANSION - Google expands Chrome AI Mode to iOS and Android across 160 new countries (Nov 5). Added Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese support. Massive distribution play leveraging 3.5B worldwide Chrome users. No agentic capabilities yet but feature roadmap announced
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COMET ASSISTANT REIMAGINED - Perplexity launches completely reimagined Comet Assistant (Nov 6). 23% performance improvement (internal tests), multi-tab operation, improved perception and user controls. Android beta invites begin rolling out to active/paid users. 4-7M NA users maintained -
🔒
MINIMAL SECURITY RESPONSES - Despite Week 44's multi-source validation of vulnerabilities, most players have not shipped security patches. OpenAI Atlas update (Nov 5) includes only bug fixes and tab improvements—no security patches. Fellou CE remains unpatched since Aug 2025. Only Perplexity (Privacy Snapshot W44) has shipped dedicated security features
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⚠️
UNVERIFIED: ATLAS WINDOWS - Medium blog (Level Up Coding) reports Atlas now rolling out to Windows 11 (Nov 9). However, NPR reported Atlas as macOS-only on Nov 7. OpenAI official release notes (Nov 5) make no mention of Windows launch. Single-source claim, no official confirmation yet
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📈
MARKET GROWTH DECELERATING - North American user base estimated at 25-55M (25-22% week-over-week growth). Six-week compound growth: 525-1000% since Week 40. Market maturing: growth rate steadily decelerating from 150% peak (Week 42) to current ~25%
AI Browser User Estimates
Platform Wars + Minimal Security Response: Estimated 25-55M users (informed speculation) with 25-22% week-over-week growth. Amazon sends cease-and-desist to Perplexity (Nov 4), first major platform-vs-agent legal conflict. Google expands Chrome AI Mode to 160 countries (Nov 5), Perplexity launches reimagined Comet Assistant with 23% improvement and Android beta (Nov 6). Despite Week 44's validated security crisis, most players ship no security patches—only Perplexity (Privacy Snapshot W44) has responded. Growth continues but security responses remain minimal.
What We Cannot Measure
Critical Intelligence Gaps
- Amazon-Perplexity legal outcome and timeline unknown—precedent-setting for entire category
- Whether Amazon will technically block Comet even if it identifies as agent unclear
- Other major e-commerce platforms' positions (Walmart, Target, eBay) on agentic browsers unmeasured
- User behavior changes when shopping agents are blocked by major retailers unknown
- Conflicting sources: Medium blog claims Windows 11 rollout (Nov 9), NPR said macOS-only (Nov 7)
- OpenAI official release notes (Nov 5) make no mention of Windows launch
- If Windows rollout is happening, scope (beta vs. general availability) and user numbers unknown
- Cross-platform expansion timeline and prioritization strategy unclear
- Why most players have not shipped security patches despite Week 44 validation unclear
- Fellou CE still unpatched since August 2025—user impact and retention unknown
- OpenAI's decision to ship only bug fixes (no security patches) rationale unmeasured
- Whether minimal security response reflects technical challenges vs. strategic deprioritization unclear
- 23% performance improvement methodology and benchmarks not disclosed (internal tests)
- Multi-tab operation real-world reliability and user adoption unclear
- Android beta scope, user numbers, and rollout timeline beyond "active/paid users" unknown
- Whether reimagined Assistant addresses any Week 44 security vulnerabilities unmeasured
- 160-country expansion actual user activation vs. availability distinction unclear
- iOS/Android Chrome AI Mode feature parity with desktop version unmeasured
- Timeline for Google adding true agentic capabilities (vs. current non-agentic AI Mode) unknown
- Impact of 5 new language additions (Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese) on adoption unclear
- 25-55M user estimate accuracy and actual engagement levels unclear—wide confidence intervals remain
- Whether 25-22% week-over-week growth is sustainable deceleration or temporary plateau unknown
- Agentic Commerce Optimization (ACO) as new discipline—actual practitioner adoption and effectiveness unmeasured
- Traditional browser incumbents (Edge, Safari, Firefox) strategic responses to platform wars unclear
Confidence Framework
Market Signals
Platform Wars Erupt as Security Responses Stall - Key Developments
Amazon sent cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity November 4, demanding Comet stop enabling purchases on Amazon.com. Amazon's position: agents must identify themselves and respect platform decisions whether or not to participate. Perplexity published "Bullying is not innovation" blog post, arguing agents acting on user behalf have same permissions as users. Forbes called this "the battle for the future of commerce." First major legal conflict introduces new risk layer: potential exclusion from major e-commerce platforms. Precedent-setting for entire agentic browser category.
Google expanded Chrome AI Mode to iOS and Android across 160 new countries November 5. Added support for Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, and Portuguese. Estimated 3.5 billion Chrome users worldwide. Massive distribution play dwarfs competitors' reach. While current AI Mode lacks true agentic capabilities, feature roadmap announced signals future competition. Demonstrates big tech strategy: leverage existing ecosystem dominance while gradually adding AI agent features. Distribution power may prove more decisive than first-mover innovation.
Perplexity launched completely reimagined Comet Assistant November 6, claiming 23% performance improvement (internal tests). New capabilities: multi-tab operation (work across multiple tabs simultaneously), improved perception of complex websites, expanded action types, better persistence on complex tasks. Android beta invites began rolling out to active/paid users. Fighting on two fronts: Amazon legal conflict while shipping major product improvements. Demonstrates startup agility and feature velocity despite platform access challenges. 4-7M NA users maintained, 6.6% AI search market share stable.
Despite multi-source validation of prompt injection vulnerabilities in Week 44 (Brave, academic research, NBC News, OpenAI CISO), most players have not shipped security patches. OpenAI Atlas update (Nov 5, build 1.2025.302.4) included only bug fixes and tab improvements—no security patches. Fellou CE remains unpatched since August 2025 vulnerability disclosure. Only Perplexity has shipped dedicated security feature (Privacy Snapshot in Week 44). Response lag suggests either technical challenges in solving "frontier, unsolved security problem" or strategic deprioritization as 27.7% enterprise adoption persists without apparent slowdown.
Amazon-Perplexity conflict catalyzing new discipline focused on optimizing for AI shopping agents rather than human searchers. AI agents prioritize structured data, specifications, pricing, and fulfillment information over branding, marketing copy, and visual design. Traditional SEO playbook becoming obsolete—need machine-readable data, API integrations, semantic markup. Shelly Palmer (Syracuse professor, LinkedIn Top Voice) coined ACO framework. McKinsey estimate: agentic commerce could generate $1 trillion by 2030 (single source, treat with caution). Platform access conflicts will define which optimization strategies matter.
Market at 25-55M NA users with 25-22% week-over-week growth. Six-week trajectory shows compound growth of 525-1000% since Week 40, but rate steadily decelerating from 150% peak (Week 42) to current ~25%. Maturation indicators: legal frameworks emerging (Amazon precedent), platform gatekeeping battles beginning, growth rate stabilizing. Winners will navigate both unresolved security challenges AND emerging platform access conflicts while maintaining productivity benefits driving adoption. Central tension: platform wars now overlay unsolved security crisis.
Market Outlook
Critical Watch Items (Next 2-4 Weeks):
- Amazon-Perplexity legal resolution - Settlement terms, technical blocking implementation, precedent-setting outcome for all agentic browsers, whether other retailers follow Amazon's lead
- Atlas Windows rollout verification - Official OpenAI confirmation or denial, actual availability vs. limited beta, cross-platform expansion timeline for iOS/Android
- Chrome agentic capabilities timeline - When true agent features launch beyond current AI Mode, competitive response to Atlas/Comet, leveraging 3.5B user base
- Security patch tracking - Whether OpenAI, Fellou, or others finally ship security updates, timeline for addressing Week 44 validated vulnerabilities
- Perplexity Android rollout - Beta to general availability timeline, user adoption rates, mobile strategy effectiveness vs. desktop-first competitors
Strategic Battle Lines (Q4 2025 - Q1 2026):
- Platform access wars - More retailers establishing agent policies (Walmart? Target?), websites implementing bot detection/blocking, agent identification protocols emerging, fragmented ecosystem risk
- Agentic Commerce Optimization (ACO) adoption - Which retailers embrace vs. resist AI agents, SEO industry pivot to ACO practices, competitive advantage for early ACO adopters
- Distribution vs. innovation trade-off - Google's 3.5B user advantage vs. Perplexity's feature velocity and Android expansion, OpenAI's 27.7% enterprise penetration sustainability
- Security-growth tension - How long can 27.7% enterprise adoption persist without security patches? Tipping point where validated risks finally slow growth, regulatory scrutiny (FTC, EU) potential
Market Evolution Scenarios:
- Platform fragmentation: Major retailers block agentic browsers, forcing identification protocols, users must choose agents per platform, agentic commerce opportunity shrinks significantly
- Platform cooperation: Industry standards emerge for agent identification, retailers embrace ACO for competitive advantage, Amazon conflict resolved favorably, trillion-dollar market materializes
- Big tech dominance: Google's distribution and Chrome's scale prove decisive, OpenAI maintains enterprise beachhead, startups (Perplexity, Dia) struggle with platform access and resources
- Regulatory intervention: FTC/EU force transparency on security vulnerabilities and platform access, compliance requirements slow innovation, enterprise adoption crackdown on shadow IT
Key Metrics to Monitor:
- Platform access tracking: Which retailers/platforms follow Amazon's lead, technical blocking implementations, agent identification protocol adoption, ecosystem fragmentation indicators
- Legal/regulatory developments: Amazon-Perplexity case progression, FTC or EU inquiries, industry standards organizations activity, terms of service changes across e-commerce platforms
- Cross-platform expansion: Atlas Windows/iOS/Android official announcements, Chrome agentic feature launches, Perplexity Android general availability, mobile vs. desktop adoption patterns
- Security response timeline: OpenAI/Fellou patch releases, third-party security audits, enterprise IT policy changes following Week 44 validation, shadow IT crackdown indicators
- ACO practitioner adoption: SEO industry pivot indicators, retailer structured data improvements, API integration announcements, consulting services emergence
Methodology
Research Framework & Data Sources
Primary Sources (Week Ending November 10, 2025):
- TechCrunch: Amazon cease-and-desist letter to Perplexity (Nov 4, 2025)
- Amazon News: Official statement on Comet browser conflict (Nov 4, 2025)
- Forbes: Analysis of "battle for the future of commerce" (Nov 5, 2025)
- The Guardian: Amazon's accusation of covert account access (Nov 5, 2025)
- Perplexity: "Bullying is not innovation" blog post response (Nov 4, 2025)
- Shelly Palmer: Chrome AI Mode expansion to 160 countries, iOS/Android (Nov 5, 2025)
- Perplexity: Reimagined Comet Assistant with 23% improvement, official blog (Nov 6, 2025)
- Indian Express: Perplexity Android beta invites rolling out (Nov 9, 2025)
- OpenAI: Atlas release notes - build 1.2025.302.4, bug fixes only (Nov 5, 2025)
- Shelly Palmer: 3.5B Chrome users worldwide, ACO framework introduction (Nov 9, 2025)
- Level Up Coding (Medium): Atlas now rolling out to Windows 11 (Nov 9, 2025) - DISPUTED
- NPR: Atlas reported as macOS-only (Nov 7, 2025) - conflicts with Windows claim
- OpenAI Official: Release notes make no mention of Windows launch (Nov 5, 2025)
- Methodology note: Single-source claims from Medium blog treated as unverified when contradicted by mainstream sources and official silence
- Market size: 25-55M NA users (informed speculation, up from 20-45M Week 44)
- Growth rate: 25-22% week-over-week (decelerating from 33-29% Week 44)
- Six-week compound growth: 525-1000% since Week 40 (Weeks 40-45 trajectory)
- OpenAI Atlas: 1-3M NA users (maintained, based on Week 44's 27.7% enterprise data)
- Google Chrome Gemini: 7-20M NA users (maintained, 160-country expansion available but activation unclear)
- Perplexity Comet: 4-7M NA users (maintained, 6.6% market share data, reimagined Assistant launched)
- Dia/Opera: 100K-250K / 100K-200K users respectively (maintained, no major Week 45 updates)
- Critical advancement: Platform access conflicts now quantifiable through legal filings and official statements; security response lag documented through release notes
Confidence Level Framework:
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Disclaimer
Transparency Note
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