Perplexity’s Personal Computer turns your spare Mac into an AI agent

The AI search startup is positioning the tool as a more secure version of OpenClaw that runs on a Mac.

The AI search startup is positioning the tool as a more secure version of OpenClaw that runs on a Mac.

Perplexity wants to be more than just an answer engine. On Wednesday, it launched Personal Computer, a new AI agent tool that can turn a spare Mac into a locally run AI system, pitching it as “a digital proxy for you.”

Personal Computer will run 24/7 on a dedicated device on your local network, have full access to your files and apps, and be controllable from anywhere and on any device, Perplexity said. That deeper access makes it a more personalized version of a similar product Perplexity launched last month, Perplexity Computer, a cluster of agents it described as a “general-purpose digital worker.”

Perplexity pitches the system as more secure than other agent systems like OpenClaw, offering users a “full audit trail” and the ability to reverse actions or approve sensitive actions before they’re performed. There’s also a kill switch, which I imagine would be useful if it went rogue and started speed deleting emails.

Personal Computer is not yet available — Perplexity says potential users will need to join a waitlist to get early access, though has not indicated when the service will go live.

Like Perplexity Computer, Personal Computer is primarily aimed at professional use, part of the company’s broader strategy of positioning itself as a specialized tool. In a video demonstration, Perplexity shows a user treating Personal Computer as a virtual assistant — typing and speaking prompts to have it draft emails to investors, turn reports into slide decks, and rank candidates for a job.

But Personal Computer clearly hints at broad consumer appeal as well, particularly being positioned as something that can run on consumer-grade devices. Perplexity says the software will run on a Mac Mini — a popular device among AI agent enthusiasts — but it’s unclear what other hardware and platforms are supported.

In a sprawling X post, CEO Aravind Srinivas ambitiously suggests the product could help a single person build a billion-dollar company by overcoming the “single biggest disadvantage” people have: sleep. “It never sleeps. It’s personal and more powerful than any AI system ever launched.”

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