Perplexity.ai
Conversational search engine
Definition
A conversational search engine that answers queries using natural language predictive text, utilizing sources from the web.
Launch Date
2022
Technology Base
Based on OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 model and a standalone LLM with NLP capabilities for its free product. Pro version accesses GPT-4, Claude 2, and others.
Founders
Founded by Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski.
Number of Employees
Approximately 40 as of 2024
Industry
Artificial Intelligence
Website
Imagine you are trying to find a needle in a haystack, but instead of a needle, it is the answer to your burning question, and instead of a haystack, it is the vast, endless internet. That is where Perplexity AI steps in—it works like your super-smart friend who knows exactly where to look.
What Is Perplexity AI?
Perplexity AI is a powerful tool that is a perfect blend of artificial intelligence and online search, employed to provide an improved way of interacting with and searching for information on the web.
Different from conventional search engines, it uses a complex combination of large language models (LLMs) to concentrate on the issues and provide more accurate results. This technology is constructed on the base of advanced models such as OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 and GPT-4, Anthropic’s Claude 2, and Google DeepMind’s Gemini (formerly known as Bard).
Perplexity AI really stands out because it is not like the usual search engines where you end up clicking through page after page to find what you need. Instead, it is super quick at digging through the huge amount of stuff online, pulling together all kinds of sources to give you clear and straight-up answers.
In addition, it is equipped with multimodal capabilities, meaning it can understand and process more than just text—it can work with different types of data to give you the best results.
One more outstanding part of Perplexity AI is the “Copilot” function which offers an interactive experience. With this, you can work with Perplexity AI having a back-and-forth discussion, adjusting your questions, and getting better results immediately. This way of communication guarantees a personal approach to the provision of information, which is exactly what you need and what you are asking for.
Fundamentally, the Perplexity AI is a chatbot, but the engine is highly boosted. It does not just answer questions but it uses all the power of AI, natural language understanding, and machine learning to provide the best, most complete answers. It does this by being a smart, real-time search engine that goes into the internet to bring back the information that you need, which is as easy to use as chatting with a friend.
7 Major features of Perplexity AI you should know about
1. Simple Yet Powerful Answers
The core of Perplexity AI is providing accurate and comprehensive responses to your queries. Wondering how it works? It is as if you are having a discussion with a very resourceful friend who can search online and access a lot of references and reliable sources to provide you with the most correct information.
2. For Everyone and Everywhere
What’s even better? It is absolutely free (though a Pro version is available) and simple to operate, be it online or on your phone through its app.
3. Copilot – From Quick Facts to Deep Insights
Perplexity AI is not just about answering questions; it is about enlarging your horizon. Features like Copilot help you to dive deep into the topic and learn something new with guided search. It is excellent when you wish to go beyond the superficial and really comprehend a topic.
4. Keep It Organized
If you are working on a project or generally like things well-organized, Perplexity AI allows you to categorize your threads in Collections. This implies that you can group similar topics, invite contributors, and control privacy settings as you wish.
5. The Power of Pro Search
Do you remember times when you were annoyed with ordinary search engines showing you meaningless links? Perplexity’s Pro Search is the “up your game” option that you have been longing for. It is a turbo-charged search engine that can navigate through tons of data and give you the exact results based on what you really need, without being distracted by any irrelevant information.
Why use Pro?
- Pro Search meets your specific demands by asking additional questions to make sure that answers are adjusted to your particular case.
- Skip reading the unnecessary details and go straight to the main points with summarized findings which will save you time and energy.
- Diverse Sources: Get a thorough visualization with data gathered from a diverse variety of sources.
6. Mobile, Chrome, and Beyond
Perplexity offers an easy-to-use mobile app and a Chrome extension so you can get all the relevant information you need, regardless of your device. The app also has a voice search functionality and supports several languages while the Chrome extension summarizes the web page you’re on or answers specific questions about it.
7. Problem-Solving Abilities
From research and writing to investment analysis, Perplexity AI is equipped to help solve a variety of problems. Its ability to summarize information and simulate scenarios makes it an invaluable tool across many fields.
Checking Perplexity AI: An Example
Suppose you’re curious and ask, “What are the nutritional benefits of incorporating avocados into my diet?”
In response, Perplexity explores a range of reliable sources, including nutrition science websites, scholarly articles, and specialized food blogs. It gathers essential insights and organizes them into an accessible summary, ensuring each point is backed by credible references.
Perplexity also offers suggestions for related queries, similar to Google, to enhance your search experience and broaden the scope of your exploration.
With Perplexity, your conversation can evolve, remembering the thread of your inquiries, which allows for an in-depth exploration of the subject matter.
How to kick off with Perplexity AI?
Ready to make Perplexity AI your new go-to for answers? It’s quite easy and really handy, whether you’re on a computer or using your mobile phone. Here is the lowdown on getting started:
- Hit Up the Website: Pop over to www.perplexity.ai.
- Ask Your Question: See the search bar? Drop your question there, click the blue arrow, and you’re off to the races.
- Check Out the Answer: Take a look at what Perplexity kicks back to you, sources and all.
- Got More Questions? Use the “Ask a follow-up” bar to keep the conversation going.
And just like that, you’re in business!
Top tips for using Perplexity AI
To really nail it with Perplexity AI, remember to:
1. Search Your Way—Keywords or File Upload
Getting the best out of Perplexity is about how you ask. Want to keep it simple? Throw in a couple of keywords. Got something more complex? Upload a document for that enhanced search. Your choice, your results.
2. Tweak It to Your Liking
The more you play with your AI Profile settings—like changing the language, adjusting the output format, or setting the tone—the more Perplexity feels like it’s truly yours. Customize it to fit what you like, and watch it get better with every search.
3. Your Stuff, Your Rules
Privacy’s a big deal here. Your threads are just for you, unless you decide to hit “Share” and show them off. Working on something with others? Use Threads and Collections to pull in everyone’s brainpower. It’s about making Perplexity work for your team, in your way.
And That’s It!
Perplexity AI is here to make finding answers easy and fun, with a little bit of customization to make it feel like it is made just for you. Give it a whirl and see how it can up your game.