What is Inline Assistant?
Inline Assistant is an AI-powered assistant that helps you read and write better across the web. When you select text on any webpage or in input fields, a floating assistant appears offering quick actions like summarizing, fact-checking, translating, improving writing, and more.
How do I activate Inline Assistant?
Simply select any text on a webpage or in a text field. A small floating button will appear near your selection. Click it to see available options, or hover to expand the menu with suggested actions.
What can I do with Inline Assistant?
When reading text on a page:
Summarize - Get a concise summary of the selected text
Fact check - Verify claims and explore alternative perspectives
Define - Get definitions for terms or phrases
Translate - Translate text to your preferred language
Ask anything - Type your own question or request. You can ask for explanations, comparisons, rewrites, or anything else you need
When editing text in input fields:
Rephrase - Rewrite using different words and expressions
Translate - Translate to your preferred language
Edit anything - Get custom help with your writing. Ask to improve grammar, change the tone, make it shorter or longer, or any other edits you need
When starting with an empty input field:
Generate from scratch - Use “Help me draft” to create new text based on your prompt
Reply to a thread - On some websites Assistant will offer help with writing a reply based on thread and page context
The flexible input lets you make any request - whether it’s improving writing, changing tone, fixing grammar, or something completely custom. Just describe what you need in your own words.
Where do the results appear?
Results appear in a floating popup that overlays your content. You can:
Close the popup by clicking the X or pressing Esc
Copy the result text
Copy a link to the result
Insert the result directly into an active text field
Send to sidecar to continue the conversation in your Assistant panel
Does Inline Assistant work on all websites?
Inline Assistant works on most websites. However, it may not appear:
In Incognito/Private browsing mode
On certain blocked websites (configurable in settings)
On some sites with special input handling (like Google Docs)
How do I turn off Inline Assistant?
You can disable Inline Assistant in two ways:
Click the three-dot menu in the Inline Assistant popup and select disable
Navigate to Settings and toggle off the Inline Assistant option
What if the floating button is in the way?
The button automatically positions itself near your selection to avoid blocking content. If the popup is blocking something you need to see, you can:
Close it with Esc or the X button
Move it by dragging (coming soon)
Send it to the sidecar for a persistent view
Does Inline Assistant work with the Comet Assistant?
Yes! Inline Assistant is integrated with the Comet Assistant. When you use any of the options, the Assistant processes your request using AI. You can send responses to the sidecar to continue the conversation in your Assistant panel.
How is this different from the regular Comet Assistant?
Inline Assistant provides quick, contextual actions right where you’re reading or writing, without leaving the page. It’s optimized for fast, inline assistance. The regular Comet Assistant in the sidecar is better for longer conversations and research.
Can I customize which options appear in the menu?
Currently, the menu options are pre-configured based on the context (reading vs. writing). Customization options may be added in future updates.
What happens to my queries and selections?
Your text selections and queries are processed by Perplexity AI to provide responses. They follow the same privacy and data handling policies as regular Perplexity queries.
The button isn’t appearing when I select text. What should I do?
If the Inline Assistant button isn’t appearing:
Make sure you’re not in Incognito/Private mode
Check that the feature is enabled in your Comet settings
Try refreshing the page
Make sure you’ve fully selected the text (not just clicked)
Check if the website might be on the blocklist
Can I use Inline Assistant on mobile?
Inline Assistant is currently available in the Comet browser extension. Mobile support details may vary.