What is Perplexity AI: A Revolutionary Search Engine

Ever since its launch, Perplexity AI has been the talk of the town. But is it really worth this much hype? Let’s find out all about the platform!

Claiming itself to be analogous to a versatile Swiss Army Knife, Perplexity has proven its worth as one of the rapidly growing AI tools. Perplexity AI is set to transform the way daily searches are being made. Would be safe to even say that it is on its way to give Google a run for its money. But exactly what is Perplexity AI?

Perplexity AI is an artificial intelligence-backed search engine that is created to offer audiences a more optimized way of looking up information on the web. From adding more context to your search to providing improved accuracy in results, we believe that Perplexity AI is a one-of-a-kind tool that works as a chatbot-assisted search engine. Something we've hardly ever heard of, isn't it?

Unlike Google, which grants you a list of relevant websites to your searches, Perplexity generates results that are more ‘to-the-point’ — which means you’ll get your answer in a short excerpt with all the required information. Given its concise, summarized way of providing answers, Perplexity AI has compelled around 10 million active users, adding more and more people to its thriving community!

If you’re still unfamiliar with this revolutionary tool, it is time that we change that.

After working with this tool for months, my team and I have created this comprehensive guide that will help you easily understand what is Perplexity AI, how you can use it, and some of its best applications. So keep reading and find yourself amazed by Perplexity’s competencies, one feature at a time!

Understanding What is Perplexity AI: A Comprehensive Guide to Its Journey

2022 was the foundation year for Perplexity AI, where founders Johnny Ho, Aravind Srinivas, Andy Konwisnki, and Denis Yarats (ex-Google) were involved in developing large language models. However, soon, they got tired of the complexity of accessing and using the knowledge used in these models. Eventually, they decided to start their own company to help solve this problem.

Perplexity AI is still in its early stages, however, as quite evident, it has become immensely popular. It is funded by a number of venture capital firms, including Amazon and Nvidia. 

But exactly what is Perplexity AI?

In simple terms, the Perplexity AI can be described as a state-of-the-art NLP model that can mimic human-like conversations by analyzing and generating text based on the provided prompts. 

To achieve this feat, the Perplexity AI model utilizes various large language models (LLM) that power its natural language processing (NLP) capabilities. These include Mistral Large, GPT-4, and Claude-3, as well as Perplexity’s own custom models. Perplexity uses these LLMs to understand exactly what the user is asking and then summarizes the relevant answer. 

A simplified overview of how the Perplexity AI tool functions can be categorized into three main steps,

• Data Input: Users provide questions in the form of prompts to the AI.
• Processing: With the help of its extensive training data, Perplexity AI then analyzes the input to accurately decode the context and intent.
• Response Generation: Based on the analysis, this AI platform generates a relevant and coherent response.

Core Features of Perplexity AI

While working with the Perplexity AI app we noticed that it boasts three unique features. I truly believe these features are the reason behind Perplexity being labeled as one of the best artificial intelligence tools currently occupying the market. 

Wondering what those features are? Let us show you.

1. Perplexity Copilot

Perplexity Copilot is a unique feature of this platform that enhances the search experience by making it more interactive for the users. Suppose you have a query in your mind. You navigate to the Perplexity Copilot, enter the question in the form of a prompt, and this AI tool will provide you with all the necessary information. If the questions are complex or ambiguous by nature, it may ask you follow-up questions to provide you with the most relevant answers.

2. Real-time Web Search

The second notable feature of the Perplexity app is its ability to perform real-time searches online to retrieve information on demand. Thanks to its advanced algorithm, Perplexity AI can crawl through different websites, social media, and news articles to provide you with the latest information on any search query. 

This way, you can always guarantee that you are up-to-date with current events and even consolidate news from multiple sources to acquire a balanced view of the latest occurrences.

3. Transparent Source Citation

AI chatbots have long been under severe scrutiny regarding the credibility of the information that they disburse. But that’s not the case with Perplexity Search. The best part about this tool is that it cites all the sources from where it has accumulated the information for your search query.

We found this feature extremely useful, especially for individuals who use the Perplexity AI search engine for conducting data-backed research or decision-making.

How Does Perplexity AI Work?

There are primarily two kinds of searches offered by Perplexity AI. They include,

• Quick Search - It gives you fast and basic answers.
• Pro Search - It tries to understand the specifics of your question and then generates responses tailored to your needs. To achieve this, Pro Search might even ask you follow-up questions to refine its responses further.

If you are still confused about how the Perplexity AI model actually operates, then do not worry; I have got you covered. As someone who shares the same knack for AI technologies, just like you, I have been experimenting with this platform quite a lot.  

To make the entire process easier for you, I have provided below a detailed step-by-step guide on how AI Perplexity works.

Step 1. Go to the official website of the Perplexity AI. 

You will have two options here. First, you can either use the platform without an account or create a free Perplexity account using your email, and then set the preferences and profile accordingly. I would suggest that you go with the latter option since it makes things much easier.

This is what the interface looks like. Here, you will find three options: 

• Home: It’s like a hub for all information. These include your account details, what is currently happening, and all the features.
• Discover: You can use this option to navigate through tons of interesting content on different topics.
• Library: The Library contains a streamlined set of features introduced by Perplexity AI, allowing you to effortlessly save and organize all your favorite information in a single place.

You can also use the Pro option, which is capable of breaking down complex questions with step-by-step responses. This is especially useful for open-ended and technical queries. However, please note that to unlock this feature, you need to have a Perplexity Pro subscription. 

Step 2. You can use the Focus feature here for more direct searches. It makes the platform much more useful, considering the vast amount of information that is available online. 

Step 3. Test Perplexity’s Writing Mode.

In addition to generating search queries, Perplexity AI can offer generative language capabilities. In this case, I asked the tool to write me a poem. 

Here’s what it generated. 

If you love exploring such AI platforms, then I will also recommend you to check out the use of Gemini AI tool. 

Is Perplexity available as an extension?

Yes, there are two Perplexity Chrome extensions available. Namely,

• Perplexity - AI Companion: It is a free browser add-on developed by Perplexity AI, with the help of which you can ask questions or get instant summaries while browsing the internet. It’s like having a virtual assistant right at your fingertips that enables you to ask questions about your current page or domain directly from the toolbar. The answers are shared with a link, and you can even ask follow-up questions with just a click. 
• Perplexity - AI Search: With the help of this Perplexity AI extension, you can set Perplexity AI as your default search engine. The ultimate result? Lighting fast searches and precise responses with transparent and credible sourcing.

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT

Perplexity AI and ChatGPT are two of the most popular AI tools that have taken the internet by storm over the last few years. This brings us to the burning question– Are Perplexity AI and ChatGPT the same thing? Or which is better: Perplexity AI or ChatGPT?
 
Well, from a purely technical point of view, ChatGPT and Perplexity AI are not the same. 
ChatGPT is currently one of the most popular AI chatbots. Perplexity AI, on the other hand, is billed as an alternative to traditional search engines designed to find information from the web. 

However, that being said, it would be wrong for me to deny that Perplexity AI does not have any chatbot capabilities. Besides answering factual questions, you can also use this platform to do ‘chatbot-y’ things. From harnessing its writing mode for generating content to running extensive research without referring to the web directly. Moreover, similar to ChatGPT, Perplexity AI also has a built-in image generator. 

Here’s a dedicated comparison between ChatGPT and Perplexity AI search engine to highlight how these two differ.

Applications of Perplexity AI

The applications of the Perplexity AI tool are varied, catering to both the professional and creative domains. Allow us to share a few prominent examples:

1. Professional

The use cases of Perplexity AI in a professional setting are as follows,

• Education: Can be utilized to enhance lesson plans, stay up-to-date with the latest trends in education, and create personalized learning experiences.
• Customer Support: You can easily generate solutions to common customer queries or even draft appropriate responses to questions with the help of Perplexity AI.
• Product Management: AI Perplexity Search performs exceptionally well in generating quick and accurate answers to product-related questions, which may include anything from best practices for development to market analysis or user research.

2. Creative

Perplexity AI also shows immense potential when it comes to providing aid in creative tasks.

• Scripts: Perplexity AI has the ability to generate dialogues and scenes, thereby facilitating the entire process of creating a play or a video script.
• Emails and Letters: With the help of this platform, you can now draft professional emails to your corporate clients or send personal letters to your near and dear ones in a fast and hassle-free manner.
• Musical Pieces: Seeking inspiration for lyrics or musical compositions? Perplexity AI can help you with just the same. 

Perplexity AI Pricing: Is It Worth Your Money?

Perplexity AI pricing model is currently offered in three variants.

1. Free Version: The free version of Perplexity AI offers the following features:

• Basic AI search and text writing
• Utilises GPT-3 instead of GPT-4
• Five daily pro searches

2. Pro Version: To unlock more advanced features, you can pay for Perplexity Pro, which is currently available at $20 per month or $200 per year. It will give you access to:

• Unlimited quick searches
• Unlimited file uploads
• 600 pro searches on a daily basis
• Preference to choose any AI model for your searches (GPT-4, Claude 3, etc.)
• $5 in monthly API credit
• Playground DALL-E and SDXL access (limited to 50 searches per day)

3. Enterprise Version: Perplexity AI recently unveiled the enterprise plan, specifically targeting companies with less than 250 employees. It is currently priced at $40 per month or $400 per year. It comes alongside enhanced security, increased data privacy, user management capabilities, and single sign-on. 

Other features include,

• Data retention functionalities 
• Unlimited daily pro searches
• Unlimited file uploads
• Access to top AI models

If this is not all, Perplexity AI also offers custom and flexible plans for larger enterprises based on the total number of seats purchased.

Now, coming to the most important question: should you invest in Perplexity AI or not? Well, truth be told, it completely boils down to your needs. 

From a personal perspective, if you are serious about leveraging AI for your business needs, consider getting the Perplexity AI Pro version. While the free version is available, Perplexity Pro is really where all the magic happens, as quite evident from all the features that come with it. 

Think of it as not just an expense but an investment in racing ahead when others are not even on the track.

Limitations of Perplexity AI

While Perplexity AI does provide numerous features and capabilities, as evident from the previous sections, it does have its own share of potential drawbacks. 

• Dependence on AI Accuracy: One of the biggest disadvantages of the Perplexity app is that its effectiveness is heavily dependent on the accuracy and reliability of the underlying AI models. If the AI is unable to decode your intent or fails to summarize information accurately, it can set you down the wrong path. The key is to always cross-check the information with credible sources, especially when conducting critical research.
• Restricted control over search results: One of the unique features of the Perplexity AI model is that it can curate information based on its understanding of your intent. However, this has a downside too. It restricts your ability to delve into specific aspects of a topic or explore alternative viewpoints, something that is possible with traditional search engines.
• Potential Bias in AI models: Perplexity AI is not immune to bias, and it can be quite evident from the information that it generates. One of the key reasons behind this is the data used to train the model. 

So, does this mean that Perplexity AI is not worth using? 

Definitely not. Let’s not forget that the platform is still in its initial stage, meaning that potential solutions to all these problems are underway. While Perplexity AI is not yet a replacement for traditional search engines, it serves as an excellent complementary tool that facilitates efficient and insightful research. 

Is Perplexity AI Safe to Use?

From my experience with Perplexity AI, I can confidently say it’s completely safe to use. After trying it out myself, I found that it’s SOC2 certified, which reassured me that it adheres to top-tier security standards. This certification means that Perplexity takes its data protection and privacy policies seriously, allowing me to conduct tasks without worrying about security issues.

Moreover, what I appreciated most was how the Perplexity AI search engine is constantly evolving. During my usage, I noticed regular updates and new features, which improved both its functionality and overall user experience. Knowing the platform is continually improving gives me peace of mind, as I can rely on it for both security and efficiency.

Final Verdict: Is Perplexity Really Worth It?

In our collective opinion, Perplexity AI is undoubtedly a fantastic tool that helps you get the right information super fast. Whether you are a student, researcher, business professional, or simply curious, this user-friendly tool is always at your service. Additionally, you can now use it on the website as a Chrome extension, which makes this platform even more useful.

Whether Perplexity AI is worth your investment or not that’s more of a personal choice. If you value in-depth and streamlined research, then I would recommend that you go for the paid version. Please note that the Perplexity AI cost may vary depending on which plan you select. 

However, if your goal is granular control over your search results, or if you wish access to a wide variety of sources, then traditional search engines will be the wiser choice. 

If you are interested in learning more about such tools, then check out this list highlighting the best AI courses in 2024.