HP Preinstalls Perplexity Computer on Windows PCs

HP is kicking off the rollout with its ZBook Ultra G3a mobile workstation, with plans to expand the preinstallation across its Windows lineup in the coming months. The integration centers on Perplexity Computer, an AI agent capable of operating across local files, the web, and more than 400 connected applications, including Salesforce, HubSpot, and Snowflake. For users without new HP hardware, the application remains available for download via the Microsoft Store for Pro, Max, and Enterprise subscribers on Windows 10 and 11.

A key feature for privacy-conscious professionals is Portable Computer, a local-first runtime. This system runs the agent harness, planner, and orchestrator entirely on-device. It utilizes local models like PPLX 27B and Qwen 3.8 27B, with NVIDIA Nemotron 3.5 Lightning slated for future integration. To run these models locally, systems require an NVIDIA RTX GPU with at least 24 GB of VRAM or an NVIDIA DGX Spark. When tasks exceed local capabilities, the system prompts the user before escalating to cloud-based frontier models, which include over 15 options from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google.

The partnership also introduces specialized workflows, notably a read-only integration with Autodesk Revit 2027 via its Model Context Protocol server, currently in Tech Preview. This allows architects and engineers to query building information models using natural language, such as locating specific fire-rated doors or exporting schedules, without altering the underlying design files.

For enterprise practitioners, this hybrid setup offers a way to bypass cloud-credit fees for bulk file processing and local code migrations. By keeping sensitive data within a local sandbox and requiring explicit consent for cloud escalation, the system addresses major data-governance hurdles that have previously blocked agentic AI adoption in regulated industries.