Two models are on offer for local use: Qwen 3.6 and PPLX Pro, the latter a Perplexity offshoot of Qwen 3.6 that the company post-trained specifically for Computer use. Perplexity is pitching the feature at thrifty users and the privacy-minded. With access to your Notes and Mail apps, for instance, Computer could generate a priority to-do list without any of your email data being sent to the cloud.

Fully local does not mean fully cut off from frontier systems. If a task would benefit from a bigger model chipping in, you can authorise the software to call on one of more than 15 models. Any code or tool execution happens in an isolated sandbox, and Perplexity says these security protocols persist in the cloud version too.

Perplexity Pro, Max and Enterprise subscribers can start using Computer locally today. After installing the latest version of the Mac app, in-app instructions walk you through downloading a local model onto your machine.