I’ve Seen the Future—And It Feels Like 1997 All Over Again

Back in 1997, I discovered the Internet for the very first time—a moment that felt like stumbling into a parallel universe where every question could be answered in an instant. That rush of excitement, the sense of endless possibility, is something I thought I’d never experience again.

But it’s back. And this time, it’s not because of a new browser or another clever search engine. It’s something much bigger: the dawn of AI browsers.

Last week, I started using the new Perplexity Comet browser, and within just a few days, it became clear—this isn’t about “search” anymore. We’re entering an era where the Internet doesn’t just wait for you to ask—it comes to you.

Here are just a few things I accomplished, without ever visiting a website directly:

• Booked a flight on JetBlue
  I simply asked the browser to find nonstop flights for a specific weekend, filter by morning departures, and compare prices. Within seconds, it presented the best options and guided me step-by-step through the booking — all in one seamless flow.
• Bought a phone charger on Amazon
  Instead of opening Amazon and scrolling through endless listings, I typed: “Find the highest-rated USB-C charger under $20, compatible with iPhone and Android.” The browser aggregated ratings, summarized reviews, and gave me a direct checkout link.
• Searched for and booked a hotel through Hilton
  I asked it to find Hilton properties in New York with free breakfast and a gym, and to cross-check TripAdvisor ratings. Once I chose my hotel, the browser booked it instantly — no logging in on multiple sites.
• Reserved a parking spot in NYC
  I told the browser: “Find parking near Madison Square Garden for under $50.” It compared SpotHero, ParkWhiz, and direct garage websites. I paid and received a QR code confirmation — all in under two minutes.
• Did real-time price comparisons
  Instead of jumping between tabs, I asked: “What’s the best price right now for the Anker MagSafe charger?” The browser pulled live data from Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, then displayed a clear comparison chart.
• Planned a dinner reservation
  I asked for Italian restaurants within walking distance of my hotel, filtered by 4-star Yelp reviews and OpenTable availability. I had a reservation booked in under 30 seconds.
• Generated a full itinerary
  Once everything was booked, I asked Comet to create a day-by-day itinerary — complete with flight details, hotel check-in times, parking instructions, and dinner reservations — all packaged into one clean, shareable document.
• Set up notifications
  Finally, I even configured it to send me real-time alerts if flight prices dropped or better parking deals popped up — keeping me ahead of the curve effortlessly.

All of this happened inside the AI browser itself. No tabs. No endless logins. No bouncing between apps.

It felt like having an intelligent agent stitching together the best parts of the web and delivering it all as one seamless, cohesive experience.

I can’t emphasize this enough: this changes what we think the Internet is.

For decades, our digital lives have revolved around searching, clicking, filtering, and hoping we landed on the right page. Now, it feels more like a conversation — like hiring the world’s smartest assistant and simply saying: “Here’s what I need. Handle it.”

If you haven’t tried an AI browser yet, I highly recommend checking out Perplexity Comet or similar tools. Because soon, the idea of opening a dozen tabs just to plan a simple trip will seem as quaint — and as slow — as a dial-up modem.

Urgent Alert: If your strategy still revolves around driving website traffic and chasing clicks, you’re already a dinosaur. Understand this now:

AI browsers aren’t a novelty — they’re a tidal wave.

Your competitors are already figuring out how to embed their brand directly into AI results and conversations. Meanwhile, if you keep clinging to traffic dashboards and vanity metrics, you’ll wake up one day to find your audience doesn’t even need your website anymore.

This isn’t optional. This is your moment: lead or disappear.

You need to rethink everything.

The future isn’t coming. It’s already here.