The local agentic AI system Perplexity Personal Computer, presented in March, has been available to certain user groups for a few days. This is what Perplexity writes in its official team blog. The software allows a macOS computer – the Mac mini in particular – to be fully controlled, as is known from OpenClaw and Co. The GUI of the computer is also adopted. The idea is to be able to access a local AI system that is always available, even from the cloud. Although local is relative here: Personal computers should simply use server help to complete most complex tasks.
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Pro subscription is the minimum requirement
Perplexity has implemented the AI system in the form of a Mac app. This can currently only be downloaded from Perplexity itself, but not from the Mac App Store. Apparently the moderately popular Perplexity browser Comet is also required: “Use Comet with a personal computer to unlock surfing, research and web automation directly from your desktop,” writes Perplexity.
The basic requirement for using personal computers is that you have a subscription to Perplexity. Commendably, this isn’t limited to the Max tier – Pro and Enterprise subscribers are also allowed to play (starting at $17 a month when billed annually). It initially remained unclear whether there were country bans; However, the Perplexity website in German did not give the impression that the service was blocked in the EU.
The “personal orchestrator”
Personal Computer is intended to be a kind of “personal orchestrator,” Perplexity continues, that can carry out complete workflows on the Mac. There is also web access via Comet without direct connectors, i.e. adjustments to the agent. The system sees all apps on the Mac and is supposed to interact with them. Perplexity emphasizes that what drives personal computers is verifiable and can be reversed. Initial tests must show how this works in practice.
Examples of personal computer use that Perplexity cited include responding to incoming messages and emails, keeping and completing to-do lists, or sorting file folders. In addition, the system should be able to compare data with the web – so you can secure a local document with information from the internet. Perplexity provides information on setting up personal computers on its own website. Among other things, this asks you to grant the system permissions for the accessibility features that will then be used to control the Mac. You should also be able to choose folders with which your personal computer can then operate. Finally, and this is probably the most dangerous step, Perplexity also wants access to a connected smartphone in order to be able to confirm 2FA queries. You should also be able to start tasks when you are not on the Mac.
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(bsc)
