Perplexity's Personal Computer - their attempt to make local AI agents a thing, possibly without the creepy overreach - is now available to all Mac users via a desktop app. The company announced this on Thursday, presumably with a straight face.
For those who missed the memo, Personal Computer is an expansion of Perplexity's existing general-purpose digital worker, which is also confusingly named Perplexity Computer. Because why have one confusing name when you can have two? The new Personal Computer is designed to bring AI agent capabilities to your own device, allowing them to access local files, applications, connectors, and the web to handle personal multi-step workflows. As Perplexity puts it, it "takes Computer out of the cloud-only world and onto the device where most of your real work already takes place." So, essentially, the cloud is for wimps.
The goal is to capitalize on the growing demand for local AI agents, popularized by OpenClaw, which can perform tasks on users' behalf. But where OpenClaw presented security risks due to elevated permissions - like leaving the back door wide open for digital burglars - Perplexity's solution is meant to offer a safer AI-enabled computing environment. Or at least that's the claim. We'll believe it when we see it.
Personal Computer was introduced last month but was initially limited to Perplexity Max subscribers and involved a waitlist. Now, anyone on a Mac can try it as part of the new Perplexity Mac app. Downloading the app is free, but using Personal Computer requires a Pro or Max subscription. Because of course it does.
At launch, the software can work with local files, native Mac apps, and the web. It can orchestrate tools, files, use over 400 connectors, and leverage personal context - all within a secure development environment on Perplexity's servers. If paired with Perplexity's AI-powered Comet web browser, it can even operate web-based tools without direct connectors. It's like a digital butler that can also browse the web for you.
Designed to run autonomous agents on an always-on device like a Mac Mini, Personal Computer can even be accessed remotely from your iPhone, where you can initiate tasks or approve requests. Because nothing says "productivity" like letting your Mac Mini run wild while you're at the grocery store.
Perplexity suggests this can be used for all types of work, like spreadsheets, documents, and projects with many materials. The tool can work across apps, so agents could compare two files from different apps or pull notes from one app to create a draft in another. It's like having an intern who never sleeps and doesn't complain about coffee.
As a result of this general availability, Perplexity says its older Mac app will be deprecated in the weeks ahead so the team can focus on the Personal Computer app. Because why maintain two things when you can just abandon one?
The new Mac app is available as a direct download only for now; it's not in the Mac App Store. So you'll have to venture outside the walled garden to get it.