Perplexity, the powerful answer engine, is bringing its AI capabilities directly to your desktop with the launch of its new native Mac app. This desktop app promises a more immersive experience, offering features like Pro Search, text and voice prompting, and cited sources for every answer. Users can also enjoy threaded conversations, allowing for follow-up questions and seamless recall of previous chat details. A library feature tracks your searches, making them easily accessible later. The app can also be accessed quickly through various keyboard shortcuts.
However, there’s a catch. While the desktop app itself is free to download, unlocking its full potential requires a subscription to Perplexity’s Pro plan, priced at $20 per month or $200 per year. This subscription grants users access to additional benefits, including up to 600 Pro Searches daily, the ability to choose the AI model, and the option to analyze uploaded files and images. It’s worth noting that the free web app remains accessible, offering unlimited Quick Searches and five Pro Searches per day.
This Mac app launch comes just a week after Perplexity introduced two other features: Internal Knowledge Search and Spaces. Internal Knowledge Search allows the AI to search both the web and user-provided files to deliver more comprehensive and accurate answers. Spaces, resembling ChatGPT Canvas or Claude Artifact, offers a collaborative environment where users can preview responses outside the main chat interface.
The Perplexity Mac app marks the fourth iteration of the company’s AI platform, following the web app and Android and iOS apps released last year. However, the company has faced criticism for alleged unethical behavior, including unauthorized data scraping and copyright infringement. Perplexity is currently facing a lawsuit from News Corp alleging that it scraped data from the Wall Street Journal and New York Post in violation of copyright law.
While the Mac app offers a compelling interface and advanced features, the requirement for a Pro subscription might pose a barrier for some users. Whether Perplexity can overcome its legal challenges and establish itself as a reliable and ethical AI platform remains to be seen.