Perplexity Challenges $30,000 Bloomberg Terminal with $2,000 AI Agent
AI company Perplexity has launched Perplexity Computer, an advanced AI agent that positions the company as a direct challenger to high-cost financial data providers. Within hours of its debut, a user demonstrated its power by creating a functional, low-cost version of a Bloomberg Terminal. This development highlights a dramatic cost disparity: Perplexity Computer is accessible via a $2,000 annual Perplexity Max subscription, while a standard Bloomberg Terminal license costs between $25,000 and $30,000 per year for 2025-2026. This 93% price reduction has the potential to democratize access to sophisticated financial tools previously exclusive to institutional firms.
Claude Opus 4.6 Orchestrates 19 Models for Complex Tasks
Perplexity Computer operates as an "agentic AI system," designed to automate multi-step projects that can run for hours or even months. The system's architecture delegates complex user requests to a network of specialized sub-agents. At its core is Claude Opus 4.6, which orchestrates a suite of 19 different large language models, including Gemini, Grok, and ChatGPT 5.2. This multi-model approach allows the system to assign specific tasks—such as reasoning, coding, or web research—to the most suitable AI, enhancing the quality and efficiency of the final output. The agent can interact with web browsers, file systems, and command-line tools, allowing it to perform a wide range of digital work without constant human supervision.
Browser 'Sandbox' Emphasizes Security Over OS Control
Perplexity is strategically positioning its new agent by emphasizing security, a direct response to market anxieties surrounding AI autonomy. Unlike competitors like OpenClaw that seek deep integration with a computer's operating system, Perplexity Computer runs entirely within a secure browser-based "sandbox." The company states this design decision isolates the AI from the user's main system, preventing potential vulnerabilities from affecting the broader network. This trade-off prioritizes safety and control over the deeper, but potentially riskier, system access offered by rivals. Perplexity is betting that this security-first approach will attract users wary of granting AI agents unrestricted control over their personal devices.
