Perplexity, the AI search company, is expanding its ambitions. This week, it introduced 'Personal Computer,' a new software tool designed to transform an idle Mac into a persistent, locally-hosted AI assistant. The company describes it as a digital stand-in for an individual user.

Unlike cloud-based alternatives, the system operates 24/7 on a dedicated machine within a user's home or office network. It gains permission to access local files and applications, and can be managed remotely from any device. Perplexity positions this as a more secure, private alternative to systems like OpenClaw, emphasizing features such as a complete audit log, the ability to undo its actions, and a manual kill switch.

The product, currently accessible via a waitlist with no specified launch date, follows last month's release of 'Perplexity Computer,' a cloud-based agent cluster. The new local version is aimed at professional tasks. Demos show it drafting investor emails, converting documents into presentations, and screening job applicants based on user commands.

While targeted at business use, its requirement for only a consumer-grade Mac Mini hints at wider potential appeal. In a statement, CEO Aravind Srinivas framed the tool as a force multiplier, suggesting its constant availability could offset human limitations. 'It never sleeps,' he noted, calling it the most powerful personal AI system yet released.

Source: The Verge