Perplexity’s personal computer, the answer to OpenClaw and other local AI agents, is now available to all Mac users through a desktop app, the company announced Thursday.
Again, the personal computer is an extension of Perplexity’s general-purpose, multi-model digital worker, confusingly called the Perplexity Computer. “Personal computers,” on the other hand, are designed to bring these capabilities to the user’s device. It does this by allowing AI agents access to the web as well as local files, applications, and connectors to handle individual users’ personal, multi-step workflows.
The company describes personal computers. “It takes computers from a cloud-only world to devices where most of the real work is already done.”
The goal is to capitalize on the growing demand for local AI agents, popularized by OpenClaw, that can perform tasks on behalf of users. However, OpenClaw poses several security risks due to its high privileges, while solutions like Personal Computer are intended to provide users with a more secure AI-enabled computing environment. (Or at least that’s the claim.)
Perplexity’s personal computers were first introduced last month, but were limited to Perplexity Max subscribers and included a waiting list. Now, the company says anyone with a Mac can try the software.
When running, the software works with local files, native Mac apps, and can work on the web. You can also coordinate tools, files, use over 400 connectors, and leverage personal contexts within Perplexity Server’s secure development environment.
When combined with Perplexity’s AI-powered Comet web browser, web-based tools can operate without a direct connector.
A personal computer designed to run autonomous agents on always-on devices, such as the Mac Mini, can also be accessed remotely from an iPhone and even initiate actions or approve requests on the device.
Perplexity suggests that it can be used for all types of tasks, such as spreadsheets, documents, and project work using a variety of materials. This tool can work across apps, allowing agents to do things like compare two files in different apps, take a note in one app and create a draft in another.
Perplexity said the previous Mac app will be deprecated in the coming weeks to allow the team to focus on the personal computer app due to general release.
The new Mac app is currently only available as a direct download. It’s not in the Mac App Store.
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