Perplexity AI: The Future of Search Engines and Smarter Research

(Image credit: Perplexity)

Simply, If you're engaged in tasks like brainstorming, editing, or writing, where factual accuracy isn't as crucial, ChatGPT and Gemini definitely provide better outputs. However, if you need a higher level of confidence in your answers, such as when creating a workout plan to avoid injuries or troubleshooting software issues, Perplexity AI is the better choice.

Perplexity AI is a next-generation search engine and AI assistant that answers your questions by pulling information directly from the web — complete with cited sources. Think of it like a mix between ChatGPT and Google, but instead of just giving you a list of links, it responds in clear, natural language, backed by references you can click.

Founded in 2022 by AI experts Aravind Srinivas, Andy Konwinski, Denis Yarats, and Johnny Ho in San Francisco, Perplexity’s mission is simple: make knowledge easy and accessible for everyone. With big-name investors like Jeff Bezos on board, it’s quickly become a real competitor in the search world, amassing over 15 million users by mid-2024.

How You Can Use It

Supported Platforms

• Web: Access it on any browser at perplexity.ai.
• Chrome Extension: Available on the Chrome Web Store for easier browsing.
• Mac App: Native app for macOS 13.0+.
• Mobile: Apps for iPhone, iPad (iOS 13+), and Android devices.
• Coming Soon: A Deutsche Telekom "AI Phone," expected in late 2025, will integrate Perplexity Assistant for voice-controlled tasks like booking flights.

Why It Stands Out

Perplexity doesn’t just show links — it gives direct, conversational answers and includes clickable citations for transparency. You can also:

• Ask follow-up questions in a thread without losing context.
• Focus your search on sources like academic papers, news sites, or Reddit.
• Deep dive into topics through “Pages,” where you can save and share your findings.

A free account lets you revisit your conversations, while paid users get even more.

What's in Perplexity Pro ($20/month)?

• Access to stronger models like OpenAI's GPT-4, Anthropic’s Claude, Meta’s Llama 2, and Perplexity’s own.
• Higher usage limits, and faster responses.
• Upload files (PDFs, Word docs, images) and ask questions about their content.
• Extra tools for deep research, content generation, and even shopping or finance lookups.

Limitations and Criticism

Like any AI, Perplexity isn't perfect:

• Sometimes it gives wrong or misleading answers ("hallucinations").
• It reflects the biases of its training data and web sources.
• Privacy concerns exist, as there's no third-party audit on how data is handled.
• Publishers like The New York Times and Forbes have accused it of using their content without permission.
• It relies on Bing’s search index, meaning any gaps or censorship there affect its results.

The Future of Perplexity AI

Perplexity is pushing traditional search engines to evolve. Its modular approach — using different AI models for different tasks — could set a new standard. As better models come out and more users demand transparency and citations, Perplexity is well-positioned to shape the future of search.

Final Take

Perplexity AI is a powerful, user-friendly tool that’s changing how we find information. It's fast, conversational, and brings a fresh approach to research — even if it still has a few rough edges to smooth out.