1 week ago
Perplexity Launches Local AI Tool With Permission-Based Cloud Assistance
Perplexity made a new AI tool called Portable Computer.
It is designed to run on your own computer instead of sending every task to the cloud.
This may help keep private information on the device.
The tool can work with files, apps and other tools to complete several steps.
If it needs help from a cloud AI model, it asks the user for permission first.
People can initially choose between two 27-billion-parameter models.
However, the tool currently needs Linux and a powerful Nvidia graphics card.
That means it is mostly useful to developers, AI enthusiasts and organizations with expensive hardware.
Windows support is expected in September, but support for Mac computers has not been announced.
Perplexity launched Portable Computer, an agentic AI system designed to run on local hardware.
The tool keeps tasks on-device by default and requests permission before using cloud models.
It packages a local model, inference engine, agent tools, app connectors and an isolated sandbox.
The initial release requires Linux and an Nvidia GPU with at least 24GB of VRAM.
Windows support is expected in September, while macOS support has not been announced.
- Who
- Perplexity launched Portable Computer.
- What
- A local, agentic AI system that can request permission to use cloud models when needed.
- Where
- It initially runs on Linux machines with compatible Nvidia graphics cards, including Nvidia DGX Spark.
- When
- The tool has just launched; Windows support is expected in September.
- Why
- To reduce cloud computing costs and keep user information more secure by processing tasks locally.
Privacy and Local Control
Accessibility and Practicality Concerns
Data handling
Privacy and Local Control
Running tasks locally can keep information on the user’s device and avoid automatically sending it to a cloud provider.
Accessibility and Practicality Concerns
The system may still need cloud assistance for tasks it cannot handle, although it asks for permission first.
Availability
Privacy and Local Control
Portable Computer packages the components needed for agentic AI into one system, potentially simplifying local deployment.
Accessibility and Practicality Concerns
Linux-only availability and the requirement for an Nvidia GPU with at least 24GB of VRAM limit access, making it impractical for most users at launch.
Key facts
- Product
- Perplexity Portable Computer
- Initial platform
- Linux
- Hardware requirement
- An Nvidia system with at least 24GB of VRAM
- Initial models
- A 27-billion-parameter Qwen model and Perplexity’s PPLX 27B
- Cloud processing
- The system requests user permission before switching to a cloud model
- Expected Windows support
- September
- Mac support
- Not announced
Sources
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