Perplexity releases Personal Computer Mac app for local files and native app control
Perplexity released a new Mac app centered on Personal Computer, a local-first agent that works across local files, native Mac apps, and the web. It also supports remote control from iPhone and an always-on Mac mini setup paired with Comet.
TL;DR
- Perplexity's launch post says Personal Computer is now the centerpiece of a new Mac app, where the agent can work across local files, native Mac apps, the web, and Perplexity's servers.
- According to Perplexity's thread, the Mac app runs Personal Computer continuously, autonomously, and locally, while a follow-up post adds remote control from iPhone.
- Perplexity's iPhone demo and Aravind Srinivas's rollout notes both pitch a Mac mini as the always-on setup for a 24/7 personal agent.
- Perplexity's announcement says pairing the app with Comet lets the agent operate web tools without direct connectors.
- Srinivas's post says Personal Computer is available to Pro and Max users, while Perplexity's rollout thread says the old Mac app will be deprecated in the coming weeks.
Perplexity's launch video shows the agent jumping between local files, desktop apps, and the web. Perplexity's iPhone post says you can kick off tasks remotely against files on your Mac, and Aravind Srinivas's notes make the intended hardware setup unusually explicit: stick it on a Mac mini if you want an always-on box.
Local files and native apps
Perplexity is positioning Personal Computer as a local-first version of Perplexity Computer, centered on a Mac app instead of a browser tab. The company says it can run multi-step tasks across local files, native Mac apps, the web, and Perplexity's secure servers in the launch post.
The product boundary is pretty clear from Perplexity's wording: this is not just web automation with a desktop wrapper. The pitch is direct access to on-device files and Mac-native software, with the agent staying active in the background.
Comet and always-on mode
Perplexity says Comet is the browser half of the setup. In the thread, the company says Personal Computer can operate web-based tools through Comet without direct connectors.
The other new wrinkle is persistence. Perplexity's remote-access post says you can start tasks from an iPhone against local files on your Mac, while Srinivas's five-point summary says a Mac mini turns the setup into a 24/7 always-on agent.
Access and rollout
The rollout is narrower than the top-line announcement suggests. Srinivas's post says Personal Computer is available to Pro and Max users, even though anyone can download the new app.
Perplexity is also replacing its existing desktop client. The launch thread says users need the new Mac app to get Personal Computer, and that the legacy Mac app will be deprecated in the coming weeks. The product page is here.