Perplexity Computer orchestrates 19 AI models to handle complex tasks autonomously

Is Perplexity's new Computer a safer version of OpenClaw? How it works

It's positioned essentially as a safer alternative to OpenClaw. There's been a lot of excitement (and nervousness) lately about AI agents that can work autonomously in the background of a user's computer, accessing sensitive files, API keys and the like to perform various tasks. Some say they're a monumental productivity unlock, others say they're a security nightmare. Perplexity is betting they're the future of AI. On Wednesday, the company introduced Computer, a multiagent orchestration system that harnesses the strongest capabilities from more than a dozen frontier AI models. Currently available only to Perplexity Max users -- and expected to roll out to Enterprise and Pro subscribers in the coming weeks -- "Computer is a general-purpose digital worker," the company wrote in a press release, that "reasons, delegates, searches, builds, remembers, codes, and delivers." The logic behind Computer is basically that, rather than becoming general-purpose tools, as they're commonly described, AI models have instead branched off into different specialties: Anthropic's Claude, for example, is famously popular among software engineers. Relying on a single model to complete a complex task -- building a website, say -- is therefore a bit like trying to assemble an Ikea dining table using a butter knife; it could be possible, but the finished product is going to be a little wonky. Wouldn't you rather have a multi-bit screwdriver? Also: From Clawdbot to OpenClaw: This viral AI agent is evolving fast - and it's nightmare fuel for security pros To use another analogy, think of Computer like the CEO of a company, delegating tasks across a hierarchy of teams and employees. A user can describe their vision for a final outcome ("Build an app that provides up-to-date snow conditions at different ski resorts"), and Computer will automatically break the task down into different tasks and subtasks, according to Perplexity, all of which will be handled by whatever model is called for. Its "core reasoning engine" is Claude Opus 4.6. Google's Nano Banana and Veo 3.1 handle imagery and video, respectively, while Grok handles "lightweight tasks" and GPT-5.2 is deployed for queries that require long-context recall and an expansive web search. The current model arrangement within Computer is subject to change, according to Perplexity: new models could be added if they excel in specific domains, and the existing lineup could shift as the models evolve. Users also have the option of stepping into the orchestrator role and delegating specific subtasks to particular models. Users can also execute dozens of tasks in parallel to one another; Computer can operate quietly in the background for months, according to Perplexity, checking in only "if it truly needs you." If you're reading this and thinking, "This sounds a lot like OpenClaw," you're not wrong. The AI agent formerly known as Clawdbot and Moltbot went viral earlier this month as a kind of always-on automated assistant that could essentially work across users' entire digital ecosystem, and interact with them directly via apps like WhatsApp, Slack, and Telegram. Its creator, an Austrian programmer named Peter Steinberger, was promptly hired by OpenAI: In a X post, company CEO Sam Altman called him "a genius with a lot of amazing ideas about the future of very smart agents interacting with each other to do very useful things for people," and that "this will quickly become core to our product offerings." (Disclosure: Ziff Davis, ZDNET's parent company, filed an April 2025 lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.) But the field of fully autonomous agents that can work across apps and files is a very young one, and mistakes happen. Earlier this week, Meta AI security researcher Summer Yue posted screenshots on X of her desperate attempts to instruct OpenClaw to refrain from deleting her entire email inbox, which it was ignoring. "I had to RUN to my Mac Mini" -- the hardware of choice for running OpenClaw in the background -- "like I was diffusing a bomb," she wrote. (Yue wrote in a comment beneath that post that OpenClaw had gained her trust after successfully managing her "toy" inbox, but that when she moved it to her much larger, actual inbox, it triggered a process called compaction, in which an agent is faced with an excessively large context window and starts taking shortcuts -- in this case, overlooking her original instruction not to "action until I tell you to.") Also: OpenClaw is a security nightmare - 5 red flags you shouldn't ignore (before it's too late) Yue's episode highlights two very real risks: Prompts can be misinterpreted by agents, and they can act in unexpected (sometimes disastrous) ways. Perplexity appears to be selling Computer as a safer, more controllable multiagent orchestration system than those that are currently available. The system runs in "a safe and secure development sandbox," according to the company, which means that any security glitches can't spread to a user's main network. The company also said it's "run thousands of tasks" internally using Computer, from publishing web copy to building apps, and "been consistently surprised by the quality of the output."

Perplexity's new tool deploys teams of AI agents

Unlike competitors like OpenClaw, Computer operates entirely in the cloud using a walled garden approach rather than local hardware integration. The viral OpenClaw AI tool has already spawned dozens of imitators on GitHub and has spurred pivots from major AI players like Meta. Now Perplexity is throwing its hat into the personal AI agent arena, with a new tool that can put teams of sub-agents under your command. Unveiled on Wednesday, Computer is being billed as a "general-purpose digital worker that operates the same interfaces you do"-or, as chief Perplexity business officer Dmitry Shevelenko calls it, a "massively multi-model orchestration system." Sounds like a lot of buzz words, but the bottom line is that Perplexity Computer is yet another agentic AI tool that can actually go out and do things. That puts it in the same category as Meta's Manus AI and-of course-OpenClaw, the open-source AI tool that kicked off the recent "personal AI agent" craze just a matter of weeks ago. Work on Computer, which is currently available only to Perplexity Max users, began just last month as an "internal experiment," Shevelenko wrote on LinkedIn. He attributed Computer's speedy development to the fact that "work that would take weeks for a team was getting done overnight while we slept." Computer is powered by a variety of different AI models, with Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6 running the "core reasoning engine," Gemini handling deep research projects, Nano Banana creating images, Veo 3.1 crafting videos, Grok helping with "speed in lightweight tasks," and ChatGPT 5.2 for "long-context recall and wide search." Like OpenClaw, Perplexity Computer can be set loose on a project-anything from building a web-based dashboard or an app to creating a PowerPoint deck or an animated GIF-and it will devise a plan and eventually deliver a finished product, delegating sub-agents to toil on specific tasks, such as finding API keys, coding, or conducting secondary research. Unlike OpenClaw, Computer (which I've yet to try for myself) doesn't live on your personal hardware. Instead, the Perplexity tool sits in the cloud and performs its work in a walled garden, interacting with outside services via a wide array of integrations. That's a good thing if you're worried about AI agents running amok on your system, but it also means Computer is bound by its sandbox, whereas OpenClaw can-if you let it-work directly on your devices. Another key difference is that you communicate with Perplexity Computer via the Perplexity app, whereas OpenClaw and now Manus AI offer chat via commonly used social messaging apps like WhatsApp, Discord, and Telegram. Perplexity's Sheveleno noted that he and his team "originally talked to [Computer] via Slack, since it felt more like a digital worker than just an agent," but eventually decided that it's "more like a computer, [so] we decided to name it, rebuild it, and launch it as a public product."

Perplexity Computer lets you pick the best AI for every task

The new subscription feature works like a conductor, tapping models like Gemini, Grok, and ChatGPT for specific jobs. Perplexity just launched a feature that lets different AI models collaborate on the same task. Called Perplexity Computer, it taps Gemini, Grok, and ChatGPT 5.2 depending on what you need. The tool is live today for Perplexity Max subscribers and will reach Enterprise Max users soon. Just to be clear, it's not hardware, it's what the feature is called. The system runs Opus 4.6 as its core reasoning engine. But for specific jobs, it hands off to specialist models. Gemini handles deep research by creating sub-agents. Grok jumps in for speed on lightweight tasks. ChatGPT 5.2 manages long-context recall and wide searches. Recommended Videos The idea is simple: use the right tool for each part of your workflow instead of forcing one bot to do everything. You get to pick which models run your subtasks Perplexity Computer is model agnostic, so the company can swap out engines as better ones appear. But you're not stuck with the defaults. The system lets you choose which models handle your subtasks. That control matters as token budgets become a real concern for people using AI at work. If you know one model burns through credits faster than another for a simple job, you can pick the cheaper or faster option. The approach treats AI less like a single appliance and more like a toolbox. Grab Grok for quick answers, Veo 3.1 if you need video, and Nano Banana for images, all within the same session. Why running multiple models changes the game The move challenges the idea that AI models are becoming interchangeable commodities. Perplexity argues the opposite. Models are specializing. Each frontier model genuinely excels at different kinds of work, and a smart system should reflect that. Think of it like having a team instead of one generalist. Gemini might dig through research better. Opus 4.6 handles the heavy reasoning. ChatGPT 5.2 remembers more context from earlier in the conversation. Let them play to their strengths, and the whole system gets more capable. The name Computer nods to history. In the 1700s, human computers divided complex work into pieces. Today, Perplexity Computer does the same thing with software. What the shift means for your subscription If you are a Perplexity Max subscriber, you can try the Computer feature today. Enterprise Max users will get access soon. The launch gives you a reason to revisit your subscription and test whether orchestrating multiple models actually saves time or money. Keep an eye on how the model roster changes. Perplexity built this to be flexible, so the lineup will likely evolve as new models drop. The real test is whether you notice the difference. If the system picks a faster model for simple searches and a deeper one for research, your workflow should feel smoother without you having to think about it.

Perplexity Computer Unveiled With These Advanced AI Workflow Features

Perplexity AI on Wednesday announced Perplexity Computer, a new multi-model AI workflow system. As per the company, it is designed to help users perform complex research and task execution through a coordinated network of AI models, streamlining how users gather information, analyse data, and generate actionable insights. The system is claimed to be built to go beyond single-model chat interfaces by enabling multiple AI systems to collaborate on research, reasoning, and structured outputs within a unified environment. What Is Perplexity Computer? Perplexity Computer is said to be an AI-driven workflow system that integrates several large language models and tools into a single, unified interface. Rather than using a single AI model to answer questions, this system can switch between models based on the type of task at hand. As per the company, the service is intended for complex tasks like research, document analysis, multi-step reasoning, and report generation. It can also split a complex query into smaller tasks, perform them on specialised models, and then aggregate the results into a structured output. The idea is to get better results and efficiency than what is possible with a single model interaction. The system is based on Perplexity's basic search functionalities, which are recognised for finding and referencing information from the web itself. By incorporating various models and workflows, Perplexity Computer is presented as a research assistant that can perform extended tasks as opposed to short conversations. How It Works and Key Features Perplexity Computer is a multi-model orchestration system. When a user makes a complex query, such as market analysis, technical research, or document summarisation, the system analyses the task and directs different parts of the task to different AI models. Its key features include: * Multi-model coordination: The system can leverage various AI models for reasoning, retrieval, summarisation, and analysis. * Structured workflow execution: It breaks down complex queries into logical steps, which are executed sequentially or in parallel, and the results are combined. * Integrated web research: The search function in Perplexity is retained, enabling the system to retrieve, analyse, and cite information from trusted sources. * Document handling: Users can upload documents for in-depth analysis, summarisation, or extraction of insights. * Task chaining: The system can execute multi-step reasoning and generate reports based on the collected information. Perplexity Computer: Pricing, Credits and Availability Perplexity Computer can be accessed from today onwards on the web for all subscribers of the Max plan, and will be charged according to a usage-based pricing model in credits. Max subscribers get 10,000 credits per month along with a one-time bonus of 20,000 credits. The company is also providing bonus credits at launch for existing customers and at signup for new customers, although the bonus credits will expire 30 days after issuance. To assist customers in monitoring their usage, Perplexity Computer provides features such as model choice for specific sub-agent tasks and limits on token spending. Support for Pro and Enterprise plans is expected to be released shortly, extending availability beyond Max subscribers.

Perplexity Computer: CEO Aravind Srinivas unveils the company's "next big thing" - The Economic Times

Aravind Srinivas, cofounder and CEO of Perplexity, has announced Perplexity Computer, which he's calling the company's "next big thing." In a post on X, Srinivas described it as a unified system that brings together files, tools, memory, and AI models -- all working in coordination. "Computer unifies every current capability of AI into a single system," he wrote. The core idea is that no single AI model excels at everything, so Perplexity Computer is built to be multi-model by design. Each model is treated as a specialised tool -- similar to how a computer's operating system calls on different programs for different jobs. Srinivas says the system currently orchestrates 19 models, with each handling a different function: one for reasoning, one for coding, one for writing, and so on. Users can also assign specific models to specific subtasks, which gives them more granular control over cost, since different models carry different token costs. Quoting Steve Jobs -- "Musicians play their instruments, I play the orchestra" -- Srinivas drew a direct comparison to how Perplexity Computer operates. The system is initially available to Max (Perplexity's top subscription tier) users, with usage-based pricing rather than a flat rate. Srinivas termed this as "the right business model for AI instead of ads" -- a comment that reads as a pointed reference to OpenAI's reported interest in ad-supported products. Pro users will get access once load testing is complete. Srinivas also articulated the broader vision: when an AI can coordinate a local file system, command-line tools, a live web browser, and third-party service integrations, it effectively becomes the computer itself, running tasks autonomously in the cloud.

Perplexity Enters Autonomous AI Race With Launch of 'Computer' | PYMNTS.com

According to Perplexity, Computer can take a broad instruction, such as preparing a research report or building a website, break it into smaller tasks and coordinate the steps needed to produce a finished result. Rather than responding to one prompt at a time, the system plans a sequence of actions, assigns subtasks to specialized components and tracks progress until the objective is met. Perplexity says Computer dynamically selects different underlying artificial intelligence models depending on the job. Writing tasks may be routed to one model, coding to another and image or video generation to others. The platform determines which system is best suited for each step and integrates the outputs into a unified deliverable. Semafor reported that the company envisions Computer operating for extended periods, continuing to refine work and pull in additional information without constant user intervention. On its blog, Perplexity described Computer as software that "operates the same interfaces you do," signaling that the product is designed to navigate digital tools in a way similar to a human user. Access is initially limited to premium subscribers, positioning the product for professional users who want a managed environment rather than a tool they must configure themselves. Computer reflects a centralized deployment model. Perplexity hosts the infrastructure, manages integrations and determines which models are used for specific tasks. Users define the objective, but the company sets parameters around how the system interacts with websites, applications and external services. That structure differentiates Computer from Perplexity's earlier offerings. Founded in 2022 as a search alternative that synthesized web content into direct answers, the company later introduced Comet, a browser with built-in AI assistance. Computer moves beyond assistance to orchestration, attempting to handle multistep workflows without repeated prompts. For enterprises, the appeal is control and accountability. Because Computer runs within Perplexity's managed environment, the company can impose safeguards, monitor performance and issue updates centrally. That may provide clearer lines of responsibility than tools that run independently on employee devices. OpenClaw operates on a different model. Originally launched in late 2025 under the name Clawdbot and later renamed following a trademark dispute, the software is distributed as open source and installed directly on a user's machine. Once installed, OpenClaw can connect to email, messaging platforms and local files. It can execute commands, automate workflows and interact with applications directly, giving the AI broad operational access. Users choose which models to connect and how much system control to grant. Unlike Computer, OpenClaw does not rely on a central provider to enforce safeguards or manage integrations. The flexibility has driven rapid adoption among developers. At the same time, it shifts responsibility for configuration and security to the user. Security researchers have cautioned that agents with deep system access can introduce vulnerabilities if misconfigured, including the risk of unauthorized command execution. PYMNTS previously argued that the rise of OpenClaw and other autonomous agents highlights a fundamental shift in how businesses must think about AI. The OpenClaw story reveals that agents are increasingly operating through application interfaces rather than human-centric screens, performing work that used to require human oversight.

Perplexity Computer with multi-model AI workflow system introduced

Perplexity has introduced Perplexity Computer, a system that combines multiple AI capabilities into a single platform. It is designed to research, design, code, deploy, and manage projects from start to finish. Unlike standard chat interfaces that generate answers or task-based agents that complete isolated actions, Perplexity Computer creates and executes full workflows that can operate for extended durations. Perplexity Computer operates digital tools in a manner similar to a human user. After a user defines an intended outcome, the system divides it into structured tasks and subtasks, assigns sub-agents, and executes them in parallel. Sub-agents can: Workflows run asynchronously. Users can operate dozens of Perplexity Computer instances at the same time and scale from a single task to hundreds of active projects. Each task runs inside an isolated compute environment that includes: If the system encounters a problem, it generates additional sub-agents to address it. This may involve researching missing details, locating API keys, building applications when required, or requesting clarification only when necessary. The platform is accessible via the web and does not require localized installation. Perplexity Computer uses a model-agnostic orchestration framework that routes work to the model best suited for each subtask. At launch, the system includes: In total, the platform can route work across 19 different models. Users can manually select specific models for individual subtasks and apply spending controls to manage token usage. Because the architecture is model-agnostic, models can be updated as new versions become available. Perplexity Computer runs on Perplexity's infrastructure and includes: The system maintains context across projects while applying default security controls. Perplexity Computer uses usage-based pricing and is available on the web for Max subscribers starting today. Support for Pro and Enterprise plans is expected to roll out soon.