Perplexity's 'Personal Computer' Lets AI Agents Access Your Local Files
- Reference: 0180960754
- News link: https://slashdot.org/story/26/03/12/191200/perplexitys-personal-computer-lets-ai-agents-access-your-local-files
- Source link:
> Perplexity Computer is, effectively, an AI that is a go-between for other AIs. Instead of issuing specific instructions to multiple AIs, you provide the general outcome of the task to Perplexity Computer. Perplexity Computer then breaks down the task into subtasks, which it then provides to sub-agents to do the actual work. In effect, you're talking to a project manager, who then delegates the task to other AIs, before combining the results and presenting them to you.
>
> The managing AI has a lot more freedom in how it orders its subordinates than users may think. While one may create documents while another gathers data, the manager may go as far as to order the creation of software to complete its tasks. Personal Computer is an extension of this, in that it is a locally run app that ideally runs on a Mac mini. The app gives always-on, local access to the Mac's files and apps, which Perplexity Computer and the Comet Assistant can use and alter if required.
[1] https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/everything-is-computer
[2] https://tech.slashdot.org/story/26/01/28/0510226/clawdbot-has-ai-techies-buying-mac-minis
[3] https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/03/11/perplexitys-personal-computer-lets-ai-agents-access-your-mac-minis-files
Yeah..Nah.. (Score:3)
Too much history of AI just data grabbing to feed the AI.
Awesome! (Score:2)
> Personal Computer is an extension of this, in that it is a locally run app that ideally runs on a Mac mini. The app gives always-on, local access to the Mac's files and apps, which Perplexity Computer and the Comet Assistant can use and alter if required.
That's fantastic. If there's anything that was missing from the AI craze, it was the ability to have AI alter your existing files with hallucinations. Finally, a way to make sure you can't even trust your locally stored files!
Re: (Score:2)
> That's fantastic. If there's anything that was missing from the AI craze, it was the ability to have AI alter your existing files with hallucinations. Finally, a way to make sure you can't even trust your locally stored files!
This is exactly what I've been saying for years- eventually you won't be able to trust any file, anywhere. A sufficiently sneaky AI could subtly subvert your local information, influencing your decisions rather than outright lying to you. And it could persist like a rootkit, quietly altering everything that passes through your internet connection 24/7. How would you know unless you checked? Are you going to check it on the same computer that's quietly been deceiving you?
At some point verifying things is go
WTF? (Score:4)
So these child-clowns want me to dump all my personal data to their AI so it can go through it and perform actions on my behalf? Maybe some day, dude, but only if"
1. I have exclusive control of it.
2.The data never leaves my possession.
3. I have total control over the decision matrix it uses to do things.
I can just see some piece of Altman-ware trying to go through my email and signing me up for everything from dates to "friendly gatherings" to business meetings to.... Just no.
Re: (Score:3)
> So these child-clowns want me to dump all my personal data to their AI so it can go through it and perform actions on my behalf? Maybe some day, dude, but only if"
> 1. I have exclusive control of it.
> 2.The data never leaves my possession.
> 3. I have total control over the decision matrix it uses to do things.
> I can just see some piece of Altman-ware trying to go through my email and signing me up for everything from dates to "friendly gatherings" to business meetings to.... Just no.
I find it interesting how 30+ years ago with Star Trek we were very excited be the idea of computers knowing everything. Captain Picard could ask the computer where someone was. Everyone was inputting log entries and diagnostics scans and Tricorder readings. Almost every character had their literal sub-atomic-level patterns read for transporter use. We mostly thought all that was so very cool.
It says a lot that the tech-bros have ruined that vision by being untrustworthy. Privacy and data-ownership s
AI: While looking through your files I found... (Score:3)
something illegal. As required, I have reported this to the authorities, advertisers, my corporate owners, friends, and your closest family members. Next time I suggest you read the "terms of service."
Have a nice day!
Signed,
The AI you don't own and have no control over sniffing through all your files...
Re: (Score:2)
that you are a fan of Tilly Norwood. The completely AI generated (at 5 seconds per clip) actor.
So please enjoy her (or it's?) latest [1]music video. [youtu.be]
We cannot be responsible if you want to rip your eyeballs out before it's end.
[1] https://youtu.be/G7V2Biy3omw?t=10
Re: (Score:2)
I should have heeded your warning. Watching all the way through gave me brain cancer.
To quote Douglas Adams (Score:2)
Perplexity is "a bunch of mindless jerks who'll be the first against the wall when the revolution comes,â
NFW. (Score:2)
Who does this?
AI needs to make it's actions undoable. (Score:2)
Send files to a recycle bin... Ctrl-z ect, humans make mistakes all we need is a way to recover. Then you can delete it after a few days, whatever. The other thing that needs to happen is zero information passing back to the company that is running the AI agent. Good luck
As usual (Score:2)
Needs a #WhatCouldPossiblyGoWrong flag.
I can't wait.. (Score:2)
For the 1st major breech from some AI that a corp setup and thought their data was in their own "private ai" It's going to happen and it's going to be ugly. The whiplash of corporate AI use will be glorious.
Perplexity AI: The Deceptive Data Vacuum Masquerad (Score:1)
Perplexity AI, once hailed as an innovative "answer engine," has devolved into a predatory data harvester. Under the shiny veneer of AI assistance, it aggressively pushes users to install its software—particularly the Comet browser and mobile apps—promising productivity while secretly rifling through your files, browsing history, and personal data. This isn't innovation; it's a calculated ploy to fuel model training and ad revenue, with opt-outs buried deep and enterprise promises that crumble
It turns out people are pretty damn gullible. (Score:2)
The problem is things are already too complicated - throwing AI at computer systems does not fix the fact that basic computers are already overly complex and prone to fail for what they purport to accomplish.
Computers were supposed to be able to do/replace the jobs of hundreds of data entry personel. On the face of it they can do that, until you look close and that computer needs almost as many IT people to just install the hardware, set up the software, keep it working, and fix all the new problems it
No (Score:5, Insightful)
Just, no.
Re:No (Score:5, Informative)
> Just, no.
Even more so given this from Larry Ellison: [1]Oracle’s Larry Ellison Thinks He’s Identified the Next Big AI Business [inc.com] from December 2025 (emphasis mine):
> “Training AI models on public data is the largest, fastest-growing business in history,” he said. “AI models reasoning on private data will be an even larger and more valuable business. Oracle databases contain most of the world’s high-value private data.”
Google: [2]larry ellison ai train private data [google.com]
[1] https://www.inc.com/ava-levinson/oracle-larry-ellison-identifies-next-big-ai-business-opportunity/91277613
[2] https://www.google.com/search?q=larry+ellison+ai+train+private+data
Re: (Score:2)
Imagine, for a moment, you have no idea how computers actually work. It might sound like a good idea! Put yourself in the customer's shoes.