Now Perplexity is trying to get into the local AI action

AI startup Perplexity is expanding into local AI services, launching a new portable agent called Portable Computer. Diverging from its cloud-based platform, Computer, Portable Computer leverages local AI models running on an Nvidia DGX Spark workstation, offering a cost-effective alternative to reliance on cloud inference. The company highlights the performance of small, efficient models like Nvidia Nemotron 3.5 Lightning, Qwen 3.6, and Qwen 3.8, touting their ability to handle complex agentic tasks.

By running locally, Portable Computer aims to slash costs, as users can avoid expensive per-token API fees and maintain data privacy by keeping information within their own device. While Perplexity's privacy policy does not explicitly mention Portable Computer, the company emphasizes the benefits of local inference in terms of cost savings, data security, and faster execution compared to competitors Pi and Hermes.

With potential backing from a rumored $30 billion investment from Nvidia, Perplexity is well-positioned to explore the possibilities of local AI and capitalize on the growing demand for affordable, secure, and privacy-preserving solutions.