Perplexity Challenges OpenClaw With Managed AI Agent

Perplexity AI introduced Computer, a new product designed to complete complex assignments with limited human supervision, and it sets up a clear contrast with a fast-growing open-source rival known as OpenClaw.

According to Perplexity, Computer can take a broad instruction, such as preparing a research report or building a website, break it into smaller tasks and coordinate the steps needed to produce a finished result. Rather than responding to one prompt at a time, the system plans a sequence of actions, assigns subtasks to specialized components and tracks progress until the objective is met.

Perplexity says Computer dynamically selects different underlying artificial intelligence models depending on the job. Writing tasks may be routed to one model, coding to another and image or video generation to others. The platform determines which system is best suited for each step and integrates the outputs into a unified deliverable. Semafor reported that the company envisions Computer operating for extended periods, continuing to refine work and pull in additional information without constant user intervention.

On its blog, Perplexity described Computer as software that “operates the same interfaces you do,” signaling that the product is designed to navigate digital tools in a way similar to a human user. Access is initially limited to premium subscribers, positioning the product for professional users who want a managed environment rather than a tool they must configure themselves.

For Enterprise Use

Computer reflects a centralized deployment model. Perplexity hosts the infrastructure, manages integrations and determines which models are used for specific tasks. Users define the objective, but the company sets parameters around how the system interacts with websites, applications and external services.

That structure differentiates Computer from Perplexity’s earlier offerings. Founded in 2022 as a search alternative that synthesized web content into direct answers, the company later introduced Comet, a browser with built-in AI assistance. Computer moves beyond assistance to orchestration, attempting to handle multistep workflows without repeated prompts.

For enterprises, the appeal is control and accountability. Because Computer runs within Perplexity’s managed environment, the company can impose safeguards, monitor performance and issue updates centrally. That may provide clearer lines of responsibility than tools that run independently on employee devices.

Contrast With OpenClaw

OpenClaw operates on a different model. Originally launched in late 2025 under the name Clawdbot and later renamed following a trademark dispute, the software is distributed as open source and installed directly on a user’s machine.

Once installed, OpenClaw can connect to email, messaging platforms and local files. It can execute commands, automate workflows and interact with applications directly, giving the AI broad operational access. Users choose which models to connect and how much system control to grant.

Unlike Computer, OpenClaw does not rely on a central provider to enforce safeguards or manage integrations. The flexibility has driven rapid adoption among developers. At the same time, it shifts responsibility for configuration and security to the user. Security researchers have cautioned that agents with deep system access can introduce vulnerabilities if misconfigured, including the risk of unauthorized command execution.

PYMNTS previously argued that the rise of OpenClaw and other autonomous agents highlights a fundamental shift in how businesses must think about AI. The OpenClaw story reveals that agents are increasingly operating through application interfaces rather than human-centric screens, performing work that used to require human oversight.

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