Perplexity adds an effort slider so routine jobs don't use its most expensive models

Perplexity's 21 September update lets you set how hard its Computer agent works on a task, from Light to Ultra. It also added a Microsoft 365 connector for SharePoint and OneDrive.

Perplexity released an update on 21 September that adds Effort Mode to its Computer agent. You pick Light, Standard, High or Ultra, and Perplexity chooses the model and reasoning level for the task.

Perplexity's own examples explain the idea. Light is for routine work, such as sorting vendor invoices into a spreadsheet. Ultra is for harder questions, such as testing a market entry under different growth assumptions. A Custom option still lets you pick the model and reasoning level yourself. Effort Mode is on the web for personal accounts first, with the mobile and desktop apps to follow. The same update lets Pro, Max and Enterprise subscribers connect a Microsoft 365 work account in Ask to search SharePoint and OneDrive files and read Excel workbooks.

Computer runs on credits, so the effort level affects what a task costs. For a midsize business, the habit to build is matching the effort to the job instead of running everything at the top setting.

Start with Light or Standard for sorting, formatting and summaries, and move up only when the answer comes back thin. Keep High and Ultra for decisions where a mistake would cost you. If you plan to connect Microsoft 365, check which SharePoint sites the connected account can open first, because the connector can search whatever that account can see.

A slider is a small change. Used well, it keeps simple tasks cheap and saves the expensive settings for work that needs them.