Perplexity Launches “Computer”: An AI Agent That Delegates Tasks to Other AIs
▼ Summary
– Perplexity has launched “Computer,” a new tool for Perplexity Max subscribers that coordinates multiple AI agents to execute complex, user-defined workflows.
– The system ideates and assigns subtasks to different specialized models, such as Claude Opus for reasoning and Gemini for research, to achieve a specific outcome.
– It operates in the cloud with isolated compute environments, providing access to a real filesystem, browser, and tool integrations for task execution.
– The tool aims to simplify and democratize a workflow previously used by power users who manually combined multiple models and local data access.
– The concept builds on the precedent of tools like OpenClaw, an agentic AI that operated locally to perform a wide range of automated tasks.
Perplexity has launched a powerful new feature called “Computer,” designed to act as an intelligent coordinator that delegates complex tasks across a suite of specialized AI models. Available to Perplexity Max subscribers, this system promises to handle entire workflows, from initial planning to final execution, potentially running autonomously for extended periods. Users simply describe a desired outcome, and Computer then ideates subtasks and assigns them to multiple agents as needed, selecting what it determines to be the optimal model for each job.
The architecture employs a best-in-class approach, utilizing different AI engines for their specific strengths. The core reasoning currently relies on Anthropic’s Claude Opus 4.6, while Google’s Gemini handles deep research. For creative tasks, it calls upon Nano Banana for image generation and Veo 3.1 for video production. Lighter, speed-sensitive jobs go to Grok, and ChatGPT 5.2 is leveraged for long-context recall and wide search capabilities. This multi-model strategy stands in contrast to unified offerings from competitors, which may rely on a single model family for all functions.
All processing occurs in a secure cloud environment with pre-configured integrations. Perplexity emphasizes that every task operates within an isolated compute space, equipped with access to a genuine filesystem, a fully functional browser, and real tool connections. This setup is intended to replicate and streamline the sophisticated workflows that advanced users were already piecing together manually. Previously, enthusiasts might have juggled multiple AI interfaces and used protocols like MCP (Model Context Protocol) to grant models access to local data. Computer aims to democratize that complex process, offering a unified interface where AI agents running tailor-picked models can perform tasks involving your own files, services, and applications.
This development follows the trajectory of earlier, more experimental tools. A direct conceptual predecessor is OpenClaw, an agentic AI tool that gained a cult following. Originally known as ClawdBot and later Moltbot, OpenClaw demonstrated the potential for LLMs to operate as a persistent background process on a local machine. It could autonomously manage a vast range of activities, from organizing email archives to constructing websites, essentially limited only by a user’s imagination. The launch of Perplexity Computer represents a significant step toward commercializing and scaling that visionary concept of a persistent, multi-skilled AI assistant.
(Source: Ars Technica)
