WHY STEALING DESIGN WORKS

Summary from the TLDR Design newsletter

Perplexity's AI browser Comet succeeded by deliberately copying Chrome's familiar interface rather than innovating with radical new designs like Arc and Dia, which struggled with user adoption. The strategy follows Jakob's Law (users prefer products that work like ones they already know), allowing people to switch browsers without learning new interactions while quietly integrating AI features. Instead of pursuing original design for novelty's sake, Comet prioritized invisible ease and useful functionality, proving that copying familiar patterns and then innovating subtly often beats flashy redesigns that create friction.