Perplexity Unveils 'Computer' AI Platform
AI startup Perplexity has launched “Computer,” a new system that uses multiple AI models to autonomously create and execute entire business workflows. The platform aims to be the next step in enterprise automation, handling complex, multi-step processes like research and data generation.
Perplexity's "Computer" platform is a significant step beyond single-purpose AI chatbots; it functions as a multi-agent orchestration system. This means it can break down a complex user request, such as "build a competitive intelligence dashboard," into multiple subtasks. It then assigns each of these smaller tasks to the most suitable of 19 different specialized AI models. The system uses Claude Opus 4.6 as its central reasoning engine to coordinate the workflow. For specific jobs, it might route deep research to Google's Gemini, use Nano Banana for image generation, Veo 3.1 for video, and rely on Grok for speed on lightweight tasks. This approach of using interchangeable, specialized AI models is a key differentiator from platforms locked into a single provider's models. Founded in August 2022, Perplexity AI has seen a rapid rise in valuation, reaching over $20 billion by September 2025. The company was started by Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski, who have backgrounds in AI and machine learning from institutions like OpenAI, Google Brain, and DeepMind. The company has attracted high-profile investors including Jeff Bezos and Nvidia. "Computer" operates within a secure cloud sandbox, giving it access to a browser and filesystem to carry out its tasks. This allows it to perform functions like web research, coding, data analysis, and even integrate with tools like Gmail and Slack. The platform is aimed at handling extended, asynchronous workflows that could run for hours or even months. Early use cases demonstrate the platform's ability to automate complex professional tasks. Examples include comparing competitor pricing, filtering stocks for investment analysis, generating branded slide decks from research, and even building and deploying a landing page for a product launch from a single prompt. Access to Perplexity Computer is available through the "Perplexity Max" subscription, which is priced at $200 per month and operates on a credit-based system. This subscription provides users with a monthly allotment of credits to be used for the various AI models and tasks orchestrated by the platform.
