How AI Agents Reshape Knowledge Work
· Revised 11 June 2026
Summary
Production data from Perplexity compare ordinary Search with its more autonomous Computer product. Computer sessions worked for about 26 minutes rather than 33 seconds; for matched task types, estimated completion time fell from 269 to 36 minutes, estimated cost fell 94%, dissatisfaction fell 55%, and users brought the agent a wider range of occupational tasks.
Why it matters
The study measures what changes when an AI product moves from answering questions to executing longer workflows: autonomy, task scope, completion time, estimated cost, and user satisfaction.
What to keep in mind
The authors are product-affiliated and Computer users are selected early adopters. Several comparisons rely on estimated counterfactual time and cost, and the study does not identify effects on employment or wages.