On April 17th, Perplexity launched Personal Computer, positioned as an AI assistant for Mac. It offers direct access to the Mac file system and native applications, supporting both text and voice interaction.
The Personal Computer feature was initially released in March through a waiting list. After a period of refinement, Perplexity officially rolled it out to Mac Max subscribers today, repositioning it as an AI assistant deeply integrated into the Mac’s native ecosystem.
The Personal Computer has direct access to the Mac file system and native applications. Users can wake it up by pressing the Command keys on the left and right sides of the keyboard simultaneously. It supports both text and voice interaction.
Unlike AI assistants that only run in the cloud, Personal Computer can “see” the user’s currently active applications and automatically display shortcut suggestions.
This assistant can switch between any Mac application to perform tasks, such as completing tasks on a to-do list, organizing a cluttered download folder, and comparing and analyzing local files with online information. To handle complex tasks, Personal Computer can call upon more than 20 cutting-edge models to form a team of intelligent agents working collaboratively.
Perplexity states that Personal Computer supports macOS 14 Sonoma and later, but recommends using a Mac mini as the running device.
The Mac mini can run continuously 24/7, suitable for work scenarios requiring stable local access to files and native applications. Users can also remotely initiate and manage tasks via iPhone.
In terms of security, all operations of Personal Computer are visible to the user, who can intervene at any time. Files are created in an isolated, secure sandbox, all operations are auditable and reversible, and an emergency stop switch is provided.
Personal Computer is now rolling out to Perplexity Max subscribers, with priority given to those on the waiting list. Max subscriptions cost $200 per month; Pro subscribers who pay $20 per month do not yet have access to this feature.
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