Perplexity Announces 'Computer,' an AI Agent That Assigns Work To Other AI Agents
Published: (February 27, 2026 at 07:02 PM EST)
2 min read
Source: Slashdot
Source: Slashdot
Overview
Perplexity has introduced Computer, a new tool that lets users assign tasks and watch them carried out by a system that coordinates multiple agents running various models. The service is currently available to Perplexity Max subscribers and is described as “a system that creates and executes entire workflows,” capable of running for hours or even months.
How it Works
- User input – The user describes a desired outcome, e.g., “plan and execute a local digital marketing campaign for my restaurant” or “build me an Android app that helps me do a specific kind of research for my job.”
- Task decomposition – Computer ideates subtasks and assigns each to the most suitable AI agent.
- Execution – Agents run in isolated compute environments with access to a real filesystem, a real browser, and tool integrations, carrying out the workflow end‑to‑end.
Model Lineup
| Task type | Model used |
|---|---|
| Core reasoning engine | Anthropic Claude Opus 4.6 |
| Deep research | Gemini |
| Image generation | Nano Banana |
| Video production | Veo 3.1 |
| Lightweight, speed‑critical tasks | Grok |
| Long‑context recall & wide search | ChatGPT 5.2 |
Comparison with Competing Products
- Claude Cowork – Uses only Anthropic’s models, whereas Computer selects the best model for each subtask.
- OpenClaw – Seen as an earlier incarnation of the multi‑agent workflow concept.
Related Concepts
- Model Context Protocol (MCP) – Allows models to access data and applications on a user’s local machine.
- Prebuilt cloud integrations – Computer runs entirely in the cloud, removing the need for users to set up their own infrastructure.
Source: Ars Technica article, Perplexity blog post “Introducing Perplexity Computer.