Perplexity AI

**Perplexity AI** is an AI-powered **search engine** and **chatbot** that provides **accurate, real-time answers** to complex questions with citations from up-to-date sources.
By Danny Horn | Updated on 2025-12-04 09:54:47

About Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI is an innovative AI-powered search engine and conversational platform launched in 2022. It combines large language models, natural language processing, and real-time web searching to deliver concise, informative answers to user queries. Unlike traditional search engines that return a list of links, Perplexity AI aims to directly answer questions by synthesizing information from multiple authoritative sources, providing citations to verify accuracy. The platform is available as a free web and mobile app, with premium features offered through paid subscriptions.

Key Features

Perplexity AI is an AI-powered answer engine and conversational search platform that provides accurate, real-time information with source citations. It offers both free and premium features, including GPT-4 integration, file uploads, and focused search modes. Perplexity AI aims to streamline information retrieval and research processes through its AI capabilities and user-friendly interface. Real-time web search: Provides up-to-date information from the internet, ensuring users have access to the most current data available. Source citations: Offers transparency by providing links to original sources, enhancing credibility and allowing users to verify information. Focus feature: Allows users to narrow searches to specific platforms like Reddit, YouTube, or academic papers for more targeted results. File upload and analysis: Enables users to upload and analyze various file types, including PDFs, CSVs, and images, using advanced AI models. Multiple AI model integration: Incorporates various AI models like GPT-4, Claude 3.5, and Llama 3, offering versatile capabilities for different tasks.

Use Cases

Academic research: Students and researchers can quickly find relevant, cited information for papers and studies. Fact-checking and journalism: Journalists can verify information and find multiple sources to support their reporting. Business intelligence: Professionals can gather real-time market data and industry insights for informed decision-making. Personal learning: Curious individuals can explore topics in-depth with AI-guided explanations and source materials. Content creation: Writers and content creators can use the platform for idea generation and fact-finding to support their work.

Pros

Provides accurate, up-to-date information with source citations Offers versatile search capabilities through various AI models and focus features Combines the benefits of traditional search engines with AI-powered conversational interfaces

Cons

Some advanced features are locked behind a paid subscription May occasionally produce incorrect information, especially in page summaries Relatively new platform, still developing and refining its capabilities

How to Use

Go to the Perplexity AI website: Visit www.perplexity.ai in your web browser to access the Perplexity AI search engine. Enter your query: Type your question or search query into the search bar using natural language. Review the AI-generated answer: Read the concise summary answer provided by Perplexity AI, which is generated based on information from multiple web sources. Check the cited sources: Review the linked sources provided below the answer to verify information or explore topics further. Ask follow-up questions: Use the 'Ask a follow up' feature to refine your search or get more details on specific aspects of the topic. Try different search modes: Experiment with different focus modes like 'Writing' or specialized search options to tailor results to your needs. Consider upgrading to Pro: For advanced features like GPT-4 access, image generation, and more, consider upgrading to a Perplexity Pro account. Organize your searches: Use the Collections feature to save and organize your search threads by topic or project. Explore multimodal capabilities: Try uploading images or files (with Pro account) to incorporate visual information in your searches. Use for various tasks: Utilize Perplexity AI for research, content creation, answering questions, and exploring topics across multiple domains.

Official Website

Visit https://www.perplexity.ai/ to learn more.