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Perplexity, in partnership with NVIDIA, is bringing locally run AI tools to users through a new feature called Portable Computer. The tool is designed to run AI agents directly on a user’s device, reducing the need to send sensitive information to cloud servers.
The Portable Computer provides AI agents, tools, and code execution on local hardware. The idea is to enable greater control over personal information when performing AI-assisted tasks without uploading data to external servers.
Currently, the application requires advanced NVIDIA hardware along with Linux support, but a Windows version is expected to arrive soon.
The computer's portability allows running AI agents locally without relying on cloud services. This can be an advantage for those who work with confidential files or data, as information does not need to be uploaded to the cloud to complete the job if the task does not require cloud services.
In addition, the device enables code execution and the use of various tools. If the job requires cloud services, the application asks the user for permission before uploading information to the cloud.
In this way, the user can choose whether to upload data to the cloud. Such an approach is particularly relevant today in light of privacy concerns about AI agents performing more complex tasks involving personal and professional data.
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The main limitation currently involves hardware requirements. A portable computer requires a Linux system with an NVIDIA GPU offering at least 24GB of VRAM. This places the tool primarily within reach of professionals and users with high-end systems.
Perplexity’s announcement says Portable Computer initially runs on NVIDIA DGX Spark and will soon run on NVIDIA RTX GPU PCs. The system supports Qwen 3.8 27B and PPLX 27B. NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 Lightning is also coming to the model picker.
The first release is available to Pro and Max subscribers on NVIDIA DGX Spark. Linux support comes first, while Windows support is expected soon.
The partnership between Perplexity and NVIDIA reflects a broader push towards local AI processing. Running AI models directly on devices can offer greater data control and reduce reliance on cloud infrastructure.
For users without powerful NVIDIA hardware, conventional cloud-based AI services remain the more practical option. Portable Computer instead targets users seeking local-first AI capabilities and access to hardware that can run demanding models.
