Perplexity Launches AI to Automate Complex Workflows
AI search company Perplexity has launched "Computer," a new multi-model AI system designed to autonomously create and execute complex workflows. The system aims to streamline tasks ranging from business processes to scientific research by handling entire multi-step projects on its own.
Perplexity's "Computer," launched on February 25, 2026, is not a physical device but a cloud-based AI system designed to function as an autonomous digital worker. It moves beyond answering questions to executing entire workflows that can run for hours or even months. The system was built to address the bottleneck created by powerful AI models being housed in products that limit their true potential. The system operates by taking a user's goal and breaking it down into smaller tasks. It then assigns these tasks to the most suitable AI model from a pool of 19 specialized models. This multi-model orchestration allows it to leverage the strengths of different AIs, such as using Claude Opus 4.6 for reasoning, Google's Gemini for in-depth research, and Grok for quick information retrieval. Founded in August 2022, Perplexity AI was established by Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski, who have backgrounds at companies like OpenAI, Google, and Meta. The company has seen rapid growth, with its valuation reaching a reported $20 billion by September 2025. It has attracted significant investment from prominent figures and firms including Jeff Bezos and Nvidia. "Computer" is positioned as a more secure alternative to open-source autonomous agents. Every task runs within an isolated "sandbox" environment, which has access to a browser and filesystem but is walled off from the user's personal data and local network. This approach is designed to contain any potential issues and prevent the AI from causing unintended harm. This launch marks a strategic pivot for Perplexity, moving from a "knowledge engine" focused on providing cited answers to an "action engine" that delivers completed work. The company aims to sit above the various AI ecosystems, acting as an orchestrator that utilizes the best models for the job, a strategy compared to the cloud-computing playbook. The service is available exclusively to Perplexity Max subscribers at a cost of $200 per month and operates on a credit-based system. This positions the tool for professionals and enterprise teams who can leverage its capabilities for tasks like competitive intelligence analysis, coding, and generating market reports. The introduction of "Computer" reflects a broader industry trend moving away from conversational chatbots towards "agentic" systems that can perform tasks autonomously. This shift is driven by investor demand for tangible productivity gains from the significant investments made in large language models.
