Perplexity AI has introduced Personal Computer in the new Perplexity Mac app, bringing Perplexity Computer to macOS. It enables AI agents to run tasks across local files, native Mac apps, the web, and Perplexity’s secure servers.
Personal Computer represents the next step in Perplexity’s system, taking Computer out of the cloud-only world and onto the device where most real work already takes place. It is designed to run continuously, autonomously, and locally while still coordinating with cloud systems when required.
Evolution of Perplexity Computer
Perplexity began as an answer engine focused on fast, accurate AI search and synthesis, producing verifiable responses. This remains the core foundation of the product.
It later expanded with Comet, a browser built for web-first AI agents running across frontier models. Building Comet helped define how model, file, and tool orchestration work together as a single discipline, forming a model-agnostic agentic harness designed to deliver reliable real-world outcomes rather than isolated outputs.
From this foundation, Perplexity developed Perplexity Computer, a system that turns questions into continuously running teams of AI agents capable of completing complex tasks across environments.
What Personal Computer does on Mac
Personal Computer extends Perplexity Computer from cloud-only execution to macOS devices. On Mac, it operates continuously across multiple environments:
- Local files and native Mac apps
- Open web through the Comet browser, which operates web-based tools without direct connectors
- Perplexity’s secure servers with 400+ connectors and personal context
It runs inside a secure development sandbox on Perplexity’s servers for controlled execution of tasks.
Paired with Comet, it enables agentic operations across local and remote environments wherever required.
On Mac, it allows Perplexity Computer to run continuously, autonomously, and locally. On Mac mini, it supports an always-on setup where teams of agents operate continuously from a central device. The Apple ecosystem continuity allows users to start tasks from iPhone, execute them on Mac using local files and apps, and approve human-in-the-loop requests from any device.
The system is designed for a calmer computing model, where long-running work continues in the background and surfaces only when needed.
What it is built for
Personal Computer is designed for workflows where information is distributed across multiple sources. It can work with PDFs, spreadsheets, notes, browser tabs, and CSV files to complete tasks such as:
- Organizing project materials across folders
- Comparing documents and summarizing differences
- Preparing reports and structured drafts
- Setting up next-stage project workflows
- Creating live dashboards instead of static documents
Users remain in control through approval steps, while the system handles coordination between apps, files, and tools.
Availability
The new Perplexity Mac app provides a permanent desktop presence and supports everyday use including queries, attachments, and dictation. It is available for all users.
- The app can be downloaded outside the App Store
- Personal Computer is included in the latest version
- Pro and Max users have usage tied to subscription credits
- The previous Mac app will be deprecated in the coming weeks