Perplexity has initiated the rollout of Personal Computer, an AI assistant designed to manage local files, native applications, and web browsing on Mac devices. The feature is accessible to all Perplexity Max subscribers and users who signed up on the waitlist following its announcement in March.
The company first introduced Personal Computer on March 11 during its Ask developer conference in San Francisco. CEO Aravind Srinivas stated, “A traditional operating system processes commands; an AI operating system focuses on goals,” highlighting the distinction between conventional operating systems and AI-centric systems.
Initially, Perplexity opened a waitlist instead of providing immediate access. Now, five weeks later, Personal Computer has begun shipping to subscribers. The assistant integrates with the Perplexity Mac App to facilitate secure management of users’ files, applications, and web browsing.
Personal Computer securely connects to any folder to search, read, and write files locally.
It can access and work across iMessage, Apple Mail, Calendar and other native Mac apps. pic.twitter.com/lbWvJZmpdg
— Perplexity (@perplexity_ai) April 16, 2026
Personal Computer is designed to operate continuously on a dedicated Mac, especially a Mac mini. It can search, read, and write files locally while interacting with applications such as iMessage, Apple Mail, and Calendar. Users have the capability to initiate tasks remotely from an iPhone, with a two-factor authentication process ensuring security.
The system employs approximately 20 advanced AI models to direct tasks to the most appropriate model for the work required. Safeguards include a kill switch for instant shutdown, mandatory user confirmation for actions, and a built-in audit trail.
Access to Personal Computer is available only through the Perplexity Max subscription, which costs $200 per month. The Perplexity Pro plan, priced at $20 per month, does not include this feature but does support Perplexity Computer, the cloud-based version launched in late February. Future enterprise versions of Personal Computer are also anticipated.
The launch of Personal Computer positions Perplexity against other AI systems, notably OpenClaw, establishing a significant competitive presence in the industry.
