Perplexity Launches Autonomous AI Workflow Agent
AI startup Perplexity has launched 'Perplexity Computer,' a system designed to create and execute entire business workflows autonomously. The multi-model AI aims to automate complex, multi-step processes, positioning itself to displace both legacy enterprise software and a significant amount of back-office human labor.
The system, dubbed a "digital worker," is designed to operate interfaces just as a human would, capable of running complex workflows for hours or even months. This distinguishes it from simpler AI agents or chatbots that only handle single, isolated tasks. At its core, Perplexity Computer utilizes a multi-model orchestration framework. Instead of relying on a single AI, it routes subtasks to a suite of 19 specialized models, including Claude Opus 4.6 for reasoning, Google Gemini for research, and Nano Banana for image generation. This launch signals a broader industry shift from conversational AI to "agentic" systems that perform actions autonomously. Perplexity Computer breaks down a user's stated outcome into smaller tasks, creates "sub-agents" to execute them, and coordinates the work automatically in an isolated cloud environment. The company, founded in 2022 by Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Andy Konwinski, and Johnny Ho, is targeting enterprise users and professionals making high-stakes decisions with this new tool. Access to Perplexity Computer is available through its $200/month Max subscription tier. Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas stated the goal is for the AI to become the computer itself, autonomously handling complex work with accuracy. The company has raised a total of $1.22 billion and was recently valued at $20 billion.
