The Pulse
Perplexity Runs Computer Fully On-Device on Apple Silicon Macs
Perplexity launched a fully local version of its Computer agent for Apple silicon Macs on October 20. The mode runs its model and task processing on the Mac, while users can still authorize cloud access for certain tasks.
AI.info Team · Written with AI · fact-checked ·
Perplexity’s new fully local mode keeps Computer’s model, planning and file processing on an Apple silicon Mac; its Hybrid Compute option begins in the cloud and brings local models in for private information. The two approaches put a choice in front of users: keep an entire task on the machine, or trade some local control for cloud-based research and reasoning. Perplexity announced the local mode on October 20, making it available to Pro, Max and Enterprise subscribers.
Two ways to run Computer
Hybrid Compute coordinates cloud-based research and reasoning with local work on private files. Fully local Computer instead starts on the Mac, where the model and agent handle task planning, reasoning and file processing. Perplexity describes the change as an extension of its earlier Mac tools: Personal Computer brought Computer to local files and native apps, and Hybrid Compute added a mix of local and cloud processing.
“Running Computer locally starts on the Mac, keeping the task’s planning, reasoning, and file processing on device.”
Perplexity
The company says users can authorize a task to reach the cloud when it needs current information, browser use or connected apps. The local orchestrator can also call on more than 15 frontier models for advanced reasoning. That makes “fully local” a selectable way to run a task, rather than a blanket restriction on every Computer workflow.
Qwen 3.6 and PPLX Pro run on the Mac
The local launch offers two model choices: Qwen 3.6 and PPLX Pro, which Perplexity describes as a post-trained version of Qwen. Computer can work with local files and supported Mac apps, including Notes, Messages, Mail and Numbers, when users grant permission. Perplexity’s examples include compiling tasks from Notes and Messages into a status update, or reviewing private portfolio information alongside market data already downloaded to the computer.
Code and tool execution take place in isolated sandbox environments with controlled access to files and connected apps, according to the company. Perplexity says the same security protocols apply to its cloud version of Computer. The local mode is designed to keep sensitive work on the Mac from planning through finished output, but cloud escalation remains available if a user authorizes it.
Perplexity recommends 36GB of memory
Computer runs through the Perplexity Mac app on supported Apple silicon machines. Perplexity recommends at least 36GB of memory for local use; its announcement does not present that figure as a hard minimum. The launch is aimed at subscribers on Pro, Max and Enterprise plans, rather than being described as a free local model download for any Mac owner.
To use the local mode, subscribers download the latest Mac app, set up a local model through its in-app instructions and choose the fully local option for a task. Users who prefer to combine local file handling with cloud-based research can select Hybrid Compute instead. The key distinction is where a task begins and runs: locally on the Mac, or in the cloud with local processing folded in.