As summer approaches and new accessible tech continues to bloom, Perplexity’s AI-powered browser Comet is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about innovations in the browsing space. Launched for iOS on March 18, 2026, Comet combines a traditional web browser with an AI assistant that can summarize content, answer questions, and even perform tasks directly on web pages. Think of it as Safari with a built-in research assistant who never gets tired—though, like any eager assistant, it sometimes needs a bit more training in accessibility etiquette. .
In May 2026, Perplexity rolled out an update featuring what’s being described as “eight major improvements” to the iOS experience. These updates include handy features like one-tap phone number actions (call, message, or save contacts), a redesigned iPad sidebar, persistent search results that remember your place, and the ability to drag images directly into the AI assistant. Other updates refine the interface—such as an adaptive omnibox and cleaner controls—while also improving stability and reducing bugs. While these enhancements focus on usability, they are not explicitly described as accessibility features, which is an important distinction when evaluating the experience for blind and low-vision users. .
So, is Comet accessible, especially for VoiceOver users on iOS? The answer is: partially, but with notable gaps. Because Comet is built on Chromium, it inherits baseline accessibility capabilities like support for external screen readers, keyboard navigation, zoom controls, and compatibility with many accessibility extensions. However, official documentation also confirms that several critical features are not yet supported, including built-in screen reader optimizations on some platforms, automatic image descriptions, live captions, and a native “read aloud” function. Notably, dedicated integration with native screen readers (such as Android TalkBack) is still evolving, and while VoiceOver isn’t specifically documented, the absence of explicit native integration signals that the experience may rely heavily on underlying web accessibility rather than tailored support. In practical terms, this means blind users may be able to navigate Comet—”but should expect inconsistencies,” our favorite phrase, right? Why wasn’t accessibility “built in,” from the very beginning. The AI assistant’s ability to summarize and research content could be a powerful ally—especially for scanning long articles or comparing information across tabs—but the lack of built-in features like structured reading modes or automatic descriptions may limit usability. That said, the browser’s compatibility with extensions and its rapid feature development suggest strong potential ahead, let’s hope we are on this AI Comet journey!
*Written by the (PASS Power Blog Team)