Perplexity has launched a fully local version of Computer for Mac, allowing the AI model, agent harness, and task execution to run entirely on Apple silicon. With permission, it can work across private files and apps such as Notes, Messages, Mail, and Numbers without sending personal data to the cloud, giving users direct control over sensitive information and credit use.
The Perplexity Mac app now provides two execution modes. Fully local starts on the device and keeps planning, reasoning, and file processing there. Hybrid Compute begins in the cloud, combining frontier research and reasoning with local handling of private files. Users can separately authorize local Computer to reach the cloud for current information, browser work, or connected apps, where its orchestrator can call on one of more than 15 frontier models.
Local mode runs Qwen 3.6 or PPLX Pro, a post-trained version of Qwen, using the Mac’s own processing power for complex, multi-step work. Computer can review project tasks in Notes, pick up requests in Messages or Mail, compare planned and actual spending from spreadsheets, draft a status update, and prepare a meeting invitation. Other examples include portfolio reviews against downloaded market data, client proposals built from confidential briefs and rate sheets, and morning action lists assembled from local correspondence.
Perplexity says the model and agent can remain on the Mac through planning, analysis, and final output. Code and tool execution take place in isolated sandboxes with controlled access to files and connected apps, using security protocols also present in the cloud version of Computer.
The release follows Personal Computer for Mac, which brought Computer to local files and native Mac apps in May, and Hybrid Compute, which coordinated cloud reasoning with private processing on the Mac. It extends Perplexity’s agent from cloud-led and mixed execution to an on-device option chosen task by task.
Local Computer is available now in the latest Perplexity Mac app for Pro, Max, and Enterprise subscribers with supported Apple silicon Macs. Perplexity recommends 36 GB or more and cites the new Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro as examples. Users can install or update the app, download and set up a local model, then choose fully local when starting a task.
Sources and related context #
- Perplexity introduces Hybrid Compute on Mac : Related context: This earlier release explains how Hybrid Compute splits cloud reasoning and private file processing on the Mac, the existing mode contrasted with fully local execution.
- Apple announces Mac mini with M6 and M5 Pro : Supports: Apple confirms the M6 and M5 Pro Mac mini models cited in the article and describes their support for running local AI models.