Perplexity Launches 'Computer' AI Agent
AI startup Perplexity has launched "Computer," a multi-model AI system designed to autonomously create and execute entire workflows. The tool aims to automate complex chains of tasks like data gathering and report generation, marking a significant step toward commercially available "AI agents."
Launched on February 25, 2026, Perplexity's "Computer" is a unified AI platform designed to act as a general-purpose digital worker. It coordinates multiple advanced AI models, including those from competitors like Google (Gemini) and Anthropic (Claude), to operate complex workflows. The system can handle tasks like web research, coding, data analysis, and integrations with tools such as Gmail and Slack. "Computer" works by breaking down a user's request into smaller sub-tasks and then assigning each part to the most appropriate AI model for the job. This multi-model orchestration allows it to chain together different operations, like browsing the web, manipulating files, and calling APIs, to deliver a finished product without manual intervention. For instance, one sub-agent could draft a document while another gathers the necessary data. The platform is designed for long-running, asynchronous tasks that can continue for hours or even months, such as continuous monitoring or generating recurring reports. It operates in a secure cloud sandbox with access to a filesystem and browser, and can even create its own sub-agents to solve problems it encounters. Perplexity was founded in August 2022 by Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski, who have backgrounds at OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Quora. Srinivas, the CEO, previously held research positions at OpenAI, Google Brain, and DeepMind. The San Francisco-based startup has seen a rapid increase in valuation. By April 2024, the company had raised $165 million. As of September 2025, Perplexity was valued at $20 billion. Its investors include prominent figures and companies like Jeff Bezos, Nvidia, and Databricks. The launch of "Computer" marks a significant move for Perplexity beyond its origins as an AI-powered search engine. The system is available to subscribers of Perplexity's paid plans, signaling a strategic shift towards enterprise and high-value users. The "Max" subscription tier, for example, is priced at $200 per month and includes credits for task execution.
