01What Is Perplexity Computer Ultra Fast?

Perplexity Computer Ultra Fast is a new speed setting in Perplexity Computer that makes the AI write its answers faster. It was added on October 14th and works with two models: GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol.

Perplexity Computer is the AI that does long jobs for you. It researches, organizes, writes, and keeps going for many steps. Long jobs have lots of writing, like plans, notes, tables, and final answers.

Ultra Fast makes that writing quicker.

Think of it like a fast lane on a road. The cars are the same models, but now there's a faster lane to run them in. Perplexity didn't create a new model.

It just added a faster way to run existing ones.

This setting is only for people on the Max Plan. If you don't see it, that's likely why.

02Key Features of the Ultra Fast Setting

Ultra Fast has a few key features you should know about. First, it speeds up the writing part of long jobs. That includes plans, notes, tables, and final answers.

It works with two specific models:

  • GPT-6 Astra – OpenAI's top model, released on September 3rd.
  • GPT-6.1 Sol – Shown on September 29th at OpenAI's Dev Day, close to Astra in smartness.

Ultra Fast doesn't speed up web browsing. If the AI visits websites, those pages load at their own speed. It also doesn't speed up thinking.

Faster writing doesn't mean faster thinking.

Perplexity didn't give a speed number for this update. OpenAI did say Ultra Fast can write up to eight times faster in its codecs tool and up to six times faster through its developer connection, but those aren't Perplexity's numbers.

03How to Turn On Ultra Fast in Perplexity Computer

Turning on Ultra Fast is simple if you have the Max Plan. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Perplexity Computer in your account.
  2. Go to the custom settings.
  3. Look for the speed option.
  4. Select Ultra Fast.
  5. Start a new job with one of the supported models (GPT-6 Astra or GPT-6.1 Sol).

If you don't see Ultra Fast, check that you're on the Max Plan. The setting is only available to Max Plan users.

If you're not on Max Plan yet, you can still use Perplexity Computer at normal speed. Run the same jobs so you know them by heart. When you get access, you'll be ready to test faster.

04How to Use Ultra Fast for Long Jobs

Ultra Fast is best for long jobs where waiting adds up. For example, a job that takes ten minutes, run five times a week, is almost an hour of watching a screen. Ultra Fast can shave some of that off.

Here are some ways to use it:

  • Research – Find gaps in your market.
  • Content – Turn research into a week of posts.
  • Weekly reports – Write the first draft automatically.

To test it, pick a competitive research prompt (like from the AI Profit Boardroom) and time it twice. See what you find.

If you lead a team, pick one weekly job done by hand. Write a clear prompt for it, let the AI make the first draft, then your team checks it. If you've never used Perplexity Computer, just open it and type one small job.

05Speed Tests and Comparisons in This Episode

In this episode, Julian Goldie didn't run a full speed test, but he did talk about numbers from OpenAI. OpenAI said Ultra Fast can write up to eight times faster in its codecs tool and up to six times faster through its developer connection.

Dominic Kundal, who works with developers at OpenAI, described GPT-6.1 Sol Ultra Fast as close to Astra in smartness with eight times the speed of Sol. But those numbers are from OpenAI, not Perplexity.

Perplexity didn't give any speed number for this update. So testing is up to you. Julian recommends a simple stopwatch test: pick a long job, time it twice, and compare.

He also shared a kitchen story: faster chopping doesn't make dinner twice as fast because the oven and water still take time. Similarly, Ultra Fast speeds up writing but not web pages or thinking.

06Tips, Limits, and Mistakes to Avoid

There are a few important limits and mistakes to know with Ultra Fast. First, don't expect every job to finish much sooner. Some will, some only a little, and a few might feel the same.

Faster writing doesn't mean faster thinking or web browsing. If the AI waits on websites, Ultra Fast does nothing about that.

Also, don't promise yourself a speed number. Perplexity didn't give one. Always test with a stopwatch.

One more mistake: forgetting to check your plan. Ultra Fast is only for Max Plan users. If you don't see it, that's why.

Best tip: use Ultra Fast on long jobs like research, content, and weekly reports. Those are where waiting hurts most.

07Who Should Use This Setting and Why It Matters

Ultra Fast is for anyone who runs long jobs in Perplexity Computer. That includes business owners, team leads, and content creators. If you do research, write posts, or create weekly reports, this setting can save you time.

Even small time savings add up. If a job takes ten minutes and you run it five times a week, that's almost an hour a week. Faster tools mean you get some of that time back.

It matters because AI is moving fast. Models like GPT-6 Astra and GPT-6.1 Sol weren't out six weeks ago. Learning to use settings like Ultra Fast now puts you ahead.

If you're not on Max Plan, you can still start learning Perplexity Computer today. Run the same jobs, and when you get access, you'll already know them.