Perplexity sets 24GB floor for private Mac AI

Perplexity’s Hybrid Compute now requires at least 24GB of unified memory on Apple silicon, with 32GB recommended, to split cloud research from local steps involving sensitive files. 9to5Mac’s launch report says the local path uses no cloud credits and an on-device PII classifier can redact names, addresses, and account numbers before cloud processing. For builders choosing between a Mac-local assistant and a cloud-only workflow, memory is now a hardware constraint—not a privacy checkbox; Apple’s desk-first AI thesis makes the same tradeoff legible.