Perplexity.ai: The AI Search Engine Revolution

Welcome to Technology Paul! Today, we are delving into a relatively new search engine making waves in the AI landscape. This search engine is called Perplexity.ai, and it aims to revolutionize how we interact with search tools by incorporating conversational AI to create a more useful, intuitive, and personalized experience.

Most people are familiar with tools like ChatGPT, which allow for back-and-forth conversations to help gather information on various topics. However, ChatGPT has its limitations, particularly when it comes to providing the most up-to-date information. To address this, ChatGPT selectively searches the web when necessary, but it often results in errors known as AI hallucinations. This is where Perplexity.ai claims to shine, asserting that it provides more accurate information more frequently, thus standing out against both ChatGPT and traditional search engines like Google.

Introduction to Perplexity.ai

Launched in 2022, Perplexity.ai was founded by a team of engineers with backgrounds in AI and machine learning. The CEO, Aravan Shavas, is a former AI researcher at OpenAI. The platform utilizes advanced language models, such as GPT-4, Claude-3, Mistral Large, and its proprietary models, to deliver a conversational experience. It offers concise, summarized answers with citations from authoritative sources, unlike ChatGPT which only occasionally searches the web.

How Perplexity.ai Works

Using Perplexity.ai is straightforward. You start by inputting a question, which triggers the engine to search the web comprehensively. The result is a well-formatted answer, often with sections and headings for better readability. Moreover, Perplexity.ai enables follow-up questions, keeping the context of the previous queries intact to provide more detailed information. This is termed as creating a "thread." Your search history is saved, and you can share it with others easily.

Advanced Features

One of the standout features is Perplexity Pro Search, which costs about $ 20 per month. This version offers more powerful searches, providing longer, more complex answers, and considering user preferences for personalization. It supports up to 300 Pro searches per day and allows for the uploading of unlimited files for analysis. Users can also choose their preferred AI models like Claude 3.5 or GPT-40 Lama 3.

The platform also includes a Library tab for organizing and referencing previous threads. You can group threads into collections, making it easier to manage projects or travel plans.

The Pages Feature

An exciting feature called Pages lets users create shareable web pages on any topic by providing a prompt. For example, if you want to create a page about starting a vegetable garden, Perplexity will generate a comprehensive web article complete with titles, tables of content, and media. Though you can add or swap out content, you cannot add your own words.

The Discover tab displays the most popular pages created through user prompts and the AI’s search capabilities, functioning as a news feed.

Comparison with ChatGPT

So, should you still use ChatGPT? The answer depends on your needs. While Perplexity stands out for its research and question-answering capabilities, especially with its extensive source citations and thread feature, ChatGPT excels in content creation and conversational engagement. If you prefer a more interactive, chatbot-like experience, ChatGPT might be the better choice. However, for accurate, source-backed information and detailed research assistance, Perplexity.ai proves valuable.

To conclude, Perplexity.ai provides an innovative alternative to traditional AI tools like ChatGPT and conventional search engines like Google. It blends conversational AI with real-time web search capabilities to deliver accurate and organized information. Features like threads, Pro Search, and shareable Pages make it versatile for both casual inquiries and extensive research.

Keywords

Perplexity.ai
Conversational AI
Advanced language models
Pro Search
Threads
Pages feature
ChatGPT
Research tool
Search engine

FAQ

Q: What makes Perplexity.ai different from ChatGPT? A: Perplexity.ai always searches the web to provide answers with citations from authoritative sources, whereas ChatGPT selectively searches and often relies on its own knowledge base.

Q: How much does Perplexity Pro Search cost? A: The Pro Search feature costs about $ 20 per month and offers up to 300 Pro searches per day along with additional functionalities.

Q: Can I customize the AI models in Perplexity.ai? A: Yes, you can choose from various AI models like Claude 3.5, GPT-40 Lama 3, and others.

Q: What is the 'Threads' feature? A: Threads allow users to ask follow-up questions in the context of the initial query, maintaining the conversation flow and saving the history for later reference.

Q: What is the 'Pages' feature? A: The Pages feature enables users to create shareable web pages on any topic by providing a prompt, with the AI generating comprehensive content including titles, tables of content, and media.