In today’s information age, traditional search engines like Google Search, Microsoft’s Bing etc. often provide fragmented answers, leaving users to piece together the puzzle themselves.
But what if there was an AI tool that not only answered your questions but also offered comprehensive explanations, reliable sources, and the ability to engage in a conversation?
Then I suggest the Perplexity AI which is a revolutionary approach to information discovery that goes beyond simple search.
In this article, we will explore the advanced Perplexity AI, how to use this and the benefits.
What is Perplexity AI?
Perplexity AI is an advanced AI-powered search engine and information discovery platform that provides users with credible, up-to-date answers to their questions.
It is a freemium app that leverages the power of AI, including OpenAI’s GPT-4 model like ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude. It provides users with accurate and trustworthy information.
It is a chatbot and intelligent search engine that employs artificial intelligence, natural language processing, and machine learning technologies to provide accurate and timely responses to user queries.
Perplexity AI is a free app on both the App Store and Google Play Store. It has been praised for its accuracy and speed, and some users have reported using it more than Google and other search engines.
How does Perplexity AI work?
Perplexity AI uses a combination of advanced technologies to provide users with informative and comprehensive answers to their queries.
Here’s a breakdown of its key workings:
1. Natural Language Processing (NLP):
Perplexity understands user queries through NLP techniques. It can analyze the intent behind the question, even if phrased informally or conversationally.
2. Large Language Model (LLM):
It leverages the power of OpenAI’s GPT-3.5 language model, allowing it to process vast amounts of text data and understand complex relationships between words.
This enables Perplexity to generate human-like text responses and grasp the context and nuances of a query.
3. Information Retrieval:
Perplexity doesn’t rely solely on its knowledge base. It actively searches the web in real time, accessing and analyzing information from various sources like websites, articles, and databases.
4. Answer Engine:
The core of Perplexity lies in its advanced answer engine. It combines the insights from NLP, LLM, and information retrieval to:
- Process your question and consider the entire conversation history for context.
- Utilize predictive text capabilities to generate potential answers.
- Choose the best answer from multiple sources, ensuring accuracy and relevance.
- Summarize the information in a concise and easily understandable way.
How to use Perplexity AI?
Using Perplexity AI is quite straightforward and can be done in two ways: through the web interface or the mobile app (iPhone and Android). Here’s a guide for both methods.
Using the Web Interface:
- Visit the Perplexity AI website: https://www.perplexity.ai/
- Type your question in the search bar. Be as clear and specific as possible for the best results.
- Click the blue arrow button to submit your query.
- Perplexity will analyze your question and present its response.
- Explore the provided resources to delve deeper into the topic with the “Ask a follow-up” bar below.
This analyzes the user question like this:
- A concise answer summarizing the key information.
- Links to relevant sources that support the answer.
- Additional information related to your query.
▶ You can also use advanced features:
- Search Focus: Upload a document or website URL to provide additional context for your question.
- Collections: Organize your searches and discoveries by creating collections.
- Personalize your AI Profile: Adjust settings like language, output format, and tone to tailor Perplexity to your preferences.
I asked this AI tool, “What is the LLM model?”, and just in a few seconds the brief answer is here.
Now, let’s see how to use this advanced Perplexity AI app on mobile.
Using the Mobile App (iPhone):
- Download the Perplexity AI app from the App Store.
- Open the app and type your question in the search bar.
- Tap the search icon to submit your query.
- The app will display the answer and related information, similar to the web interface.
- Explore the app’s features for further customization and organization.
Perplexity AI is still under development, and its capabilities are constantly evolving. As you explore and use it, you’ll discover its potential and how it can enhance your information discovery and learning experience.
Features of Perplexity AI
Perplexity AI offers several features that set it apart from traditional search engines and make it a valuable tool for research and information discovery.
Here are some key features of this AI-based search engine:
1. Accurate and Sourced Information: Perplexity AI prioritizes providing factual and reliable information.
2. Comprehensive Answers: Perplexity AI goes beyond simple keyword matching. It aims to deliver complete answers, offering not just the answer itself but also additional context and related information, allowing you to gain a deeper understanding of the topic.
3. Transparency and Citation: Perplexity often cites sources for its information, allowing users to verify the claims and explore further if desired. This transparency builds trust and credibility, making it a valuable research assistant.
4. Conversational Interaction: Unlike a typical search engine, Perplexity can engage in a conversation. It can ask clarifying questions to better understand your intent and refine its response accordingly. This interactive approach can lead to more accurate and relevant answers.
5. Search Focus: This allows you to upload documents like PDF or website URLs to provide additional context for your question. This helps the AI understand the specific information you’re looking for within the provided context.
6. Collections: Perplexity allows you to organize your searches and discoveries by creating collections. This feature helps categorize related information and easily revisit it later.
7. Personalization: You can personalize your AI profile in Perplexity. This allows you to adjust settings like language, output format, and tone to tailor the AI’s responses to your preferences.
8. Real-time Information: Perplexity actively searches the web in real-time, ensuring you get access to up-to-date information. This is crucial for staying informed about current events and developments.
9. Advanced Features (Pro Version): The Pro version of Perplexity offers additional features like increased Copilot assistance, upgraded AI models, unlimited file upload, and API credits. These features cater to power users who require more extensive functionalities.
Benefits of using the Perplexity AI app
- Efficient research and learning: Helps you find accurate and insightful information.
- Deeper understanding of topics: Provides context and related information beyond simple answers.
- Engaging and interactive experience: Feels more like a conversation than a traditional search.
Perplexity AI v/s ChatGPT
Both Perplexity AI and ChatGPT are powerful language models making waves in the AI world, but they excel in different areas.
Here’s a quick comparison of Perplexity AI and ChatGPT in a few words:
Perplexity AI:
- Focus: Search and information retrieval
- Strengths: Accuracy, comprehensiveness, transparency, real-time information
- Style: Informative, factual, cites sources
- Best for: Research, learning, finding reliable information
ChatGPT:
- Focus: Conversational AI and creative text generation
- Strengths: Engaging, creative, fun, diverse outputs
- Style: Informal, conversational, open-ended
- Best for: Entertainment, creative writing, brainstorming ideas
So, Perplexity AI excels at providing accurate and comprehensive information, while ChatGPT shines in engaging conversation and creative text generation. Choose the tool that best aligns with your needs.
Perplexity AI Pricing
Perplexity AI offers a freemium pricing model, which means you can access some features for free with additional functionalities available in a paid plan. Here’s a breakdown:
Free Plan:
- Basic search functionality: Use Perplexity to answer your questions with access to limited features like vanilla language models and basic Copilot assistance.
- Mobile app access: Download and use the Perplexity AI app for iPhone to search on the go.
- Limited API credits: Perplexity Pro users receive $5 of free credit each month for API access.
Pro Plan ($20/month or $200/year):
Unlocks advanced features with the pro plan of Perplexity AI.
- Upgraded AI models: Access more powerful language models for improved accuracy and capabilities.
- Unlimited Copilot: Get comprehensive assistance from Copilot, helping you refine your searches and explore related information.
- Unlimited file upload: Upload documents and website URLs for contextual search.
- Increased API credits: Receive more credits for using Perplexity’s API for programmatic access.
Conclusion
Perplexity AI is a valuable tool for anyone seeking reliable and comprehensive information in a user-friendly and interactive way.
Its comprehensive answers, accurate and sourced information, conversational interaction, and personalization options empower knowledge seekers to effectively navigate the expanding information landscape.
As it continues to develop, it has the potential to become even more powerful for research, learning, and exploring the vast world of knowledge.
