Perplexity AI: The Future of Search Engines (And How to Use It Now)

Introduction

Since its launch in August 2022, Perplexity AI has made a significant impact on the search engine landscape, rapidly growing to 75 million monthly visits and achieving a valuation of $ 3 billion by 2024. Backed by Nvidia and influential figures like Jeff Bezos, Perplexity is revolutionizing the way we search for information. In this article, we'll explore how to use Perplexity to enhance your search efficiency and productivity, along with the best use cases to maximize its potential.

Overview of Perplexity AI

Perplexity AI allows you to pose questions in a search box similar to Google, but instead of sifting through numerous links, it provides specific answers by aggregating real-time information from various sources across the web. You can verify answers by clicking on the provided source links and delve deeper by asking follow-up questions in a conversational format. In addition, you can request image or video searches and even generate images using AI if you subscribe to the Pro tier.

Setting Up Your Profile

While you can use Perplexity without logging in, creating an account unlocks additional customization options for a more personalized experience.

Create Your Profile: Go to settings and adjust your settings to introduce yourself to the AI. This feature is akin to the custom instruction capability in ChatGPT. For instance, you can specify if you are a college student majoring in biology who enjoys baking and yoga.
Location and Language: You can also set your location and preferred language, which can refine the responses provided by Perplexity.

Organizing Your Search Threads

Perplexity AI stores your queries and responses in a conversational thread format. You can access these threads through the library feature, which allows you to search for specific threads easily. Additionally, you can organize related threads into collections, adding an AI prompt that applies to all threads in that collection.

Focus Features for Efficient Searches

One of Perplexity's standout features is its focus capability, allowing you to narrow searches by specific content types, such as:

Web: Default search of the entire web.
Academics: Searches public academic papers and studies.
Math: Offers help with math problems.
Writing: Generates text or discussions without web browsing.
Video: Searches within YouTube.
Social: Scans social media platforms like Reddit for opinions.

Real-Time Query Application

To test its capabilities, consider a complex query like planning a cultural trip for your family. With Pro search, Perplexity efficiently breaks down the query, gathers information on festivals happening during your specified dates, and compiles it into a structured answer. This can save you significant time compared to a traditional search engine.

For estimating travel costs, Perplexity gathers data regarding ticket fees, meal prices, and transportation costs, delivering a consolidated expense breakdown quickly.

Additional Features

With recent updates, Perplexity AI expanded its functionalities to allow:

Chart Generation: It can pull historical stock price data and create charts directly.
Document Relevance Check: Users can upload documents to see if the information remains current against the latest data online.

Pricing

Perplexity offers a free tier that grants unlimited quick searches and five Pro searches daily. The paid plan is $ 20 per month, providing 300 Pro searches daily and access to advanced AI models. Users can take advantage of a trial offer for the Pro plan using a discount link.

Conclusion

Perplexity AI redefines search efficiency with its ability to provide direct, verified answers in a conversational format. By leveraging focus features and advanced capabilities, users can improve their research processes significantly. It’s a promising alternative to conventional search engines, beckoning users to explore its full range of functionalities.

Keywords

Perplexity AI, search engine, conversational search, query organization, focus features, travel planning, Pro search, academic research, real-time data, chart generation.

FAQ

1. What is Perplexity AI? Perplexity AI is a search engine that aggregates real-time information and provides specific answers to queries, enhancing search efficiency compared to traditional search engines.

2. How does Perplexity differ from Google? Unlike Google, which presents multiple links, Perplexity provides direct answers and allows for a more conversational question-and-answer format for research and inquiries.

3. What are the pricing tiers for Perplexity AI? Perplexity AI offers a free tier with unlimited searches and five Pro searches a day, while the paid version is $ 20 per month for additional features and searches.

4. Can I organize my searches in Perplexity? Yes, Perplexity allows users to save their queries in conversational threads, search through them easily, and organize related threads into collections.

5. Is there a way to check document relevance with Perplexity? Yes, users can upload documents to Perplexity to determine if the information is still relevant, with comparisons made against current data available online.