Split work between cloud and Mac
Divides a task so research and reasoning happen in the cloud while private-file work stays on the user’s Mac.
Research / product dossier
Perplexity Hybrid Compute
Routes research to the cloud while keeping work involving private Mac files local.
Product brief
What Perplexity Hybrid Compute does.
Hybrid Compute is now live on Perplexity Computer, their Mac app. It splits a task between the cloud and your own Mac: research and reasoning happen in the cloud with their strongest AI, while anything touching your private files stays on your Mac with a local AI, so it never gets uploaded. Works on Apple silicon, 24GB RAM minimum, live now for Pro/Max/Enterprise.
Why we selected it
Its split execution model makes a concrete privacy boundary: cloud research and reasoning, local handling of private files.
- Best for
- Privacy-conscious Mac research
- Category
- Research
- Daily picks
- 1
- First selected
- 2026-09-13
Product preview saved with our daily selection
Capability scan
What it can help with.
Only capabilities supported by the product information we collected are listed here.
Keep private files local
Uses a local AI for work that touches private files, which the description says are not uploaded.
Use cloud AI for research and reasoning
Handles research and reasoning in the cloud with Perplexity’s strongest AI.
Run on supported Macs
Hybrid Compute is available in Perplexity Computer, the Mac app, on Apple silicon Macs with at least 24GB RAM.
Best-fit use cases
Research a topic while keeping work involving private files on a Mac.
Separate cloud-based reasoning from local handling of sensitive documents.
Use a Mac-based workflow when private-file handling should not involve uploads.
FAQ
Before you open it.
What is Hybrid Compute?
Hybrid Compute is a Perplexity Computer feature that splits a task between cloud processing and a user’s Mac.
What happens to private files in Hybrid Compute?
Anything touching private files is handled on the Mac with a local AI; the description states those files are never uploaded.
Which parts of a task run in the cloud?
Research and reasoning run in the cloud.
What are the Mac requirements for Hybrid Compute?
It works on Apple silicon Macs with a minimum of 24GB RAM.
Who can use Hybrid Compute?
The description says it is live for Pro, Max, and Enterprise users.
Selection history