Artificial intelligence (AI) is gaining more and more ground in the technological field, especially in terms of online search engines. One of the latest advances in this field isPerplexity AI. It is a conversational search engine that has been gaining attention and recognition for its ability to provide accurate and contextualized answers to a wide range of questions. However, does this tool have everything you are looking for? Learn in detail everything about Perplexity AI: from its basic operation to its differences with other AI tools such as ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude and Gemini.
What is Perplexity AI?
Perplexity AI is a conversational search engine, meaning it is able to understand and respond to questions similarly to how a human would in a conversation. However, what sets Perplexity AI apart is its ability to provide accurate and contextualized responses through the use of extensive language models and direct access to the vastness of the Internet. Unlike conventional search engines, Perplexity AI does not limit itself to returning results based on SEO (Search Engine Optimization) algorithms. Instead, seek to understand the context of the question and generate answers using relevant online sources. In addition to its ability to provide accurate answers, Perplexity AI is also known for its ability to contextualize conversations.
Perplexity AI Applications
Perplexity AI offers a wide range of applications in various areas thanks to its ability to provide accurate and contextualized responses in real time:
- Information Search: From checking scientific data to searching for recent news, Perplexity AI can give you accurate and up-to-date answers using relevant online sources.
- Virtual Assistance: From answering common questions to providing personalized recommendations, Perplexity AI can provide real-time assistance using its ability to understand context and generate relevant responses.
- Academic research: Using Perplexity AI to generate accurate and reliable academic content. Perplexity AI delivers accurate and contextualized answers using relevant online sources, making it a valuable tool for academic research.
- Professional advice – offers concise and accurate answers. From medical consultations to legal advice, Perplexity AI can provide assistance in a variety of areas using its Internet access and ability to verify sources of information.
- Education: From answering questions in real time to providing detailed explanations, Perplexity AI can help students understand complex concepts using its ability to generate accurate and contextualized answers.
Differences of Perplexity AI with other tools
Below, we’ll explore the main differences between Perplexity AI and other tools, such as ChatGPT, Copilot, and Google Gemini:
Internet access and real-time search
Perplexity AI has the ability to access the Internet and search for answers in real time. Unlike ChatGPT, which is limited to your data and training, Perplexity AI can take advantage of the vastness of the web to provide up-to-date and accurate information.
Source verification
One of the most important differences is Perplexity AI’s ability to provide the sources of information used to generate responses. While ChatGPT does not provide this functionality, Perplexity AI lists the sources, allowing users to verify the information themselves. Include quotes in each answer.
Contextualization of responses
Perplexity AI and ChatGPT share the ability to contextualize conversations and understand the context of questions. However, Perplexity AI goes a step further by delivering contextualized answers, based on relevant online sources.
Search operation
Google primarily relies on SEO algorithms to return search results. Unlike Google, Perplexity AI seeks to understand and craft answers using relevant online sources, similar to doing a research paper. This allows Perplexity AI to offer accurate and contextualized responses instead of simply returning links to web pages.
Follow up questions
Perplexity AI provides you with related questions so you can further research your query.
How to use Perplexity AI?
To start using Perplexity AI, access the official website at https://www.perplexity.ai/. Once there, you will see a search interface similar to that of a conventional search engine. Then type your question in the search box and press Enter. Perplexity AI will process your question using its advanced language models and access the Internet to search for relevant information. In a matter of seconds, you will receive a precise and contextualized response. After receiving the response, Perplexity AI will provide the information sources used to generate it. In addition to answering questions, Perplexity AI offers other useful features, such as the ability to have contextual conversations and provide personalized recommendations. An additional advantage of Perplexity AI is that you do not need to register to use it. Simply visit the website and start asking questions right away.
Once registered, at the bottom left next to your username you have the settings. We recommend that you switch to your language if you speak something other than English. At the time of writing this article the available languages are: English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Hindi.
We also recommend that you switch to dark mode for greater visual comfort.
Advanced use of Perplexity AI, the approaches
If you look at the bottom left of the Perplexity search box you will see the “Approaches” option that will allow you to get more out of this tool. Perplexity AI offers different search approaches to help users get more relevant and accurate results by default it is on “all” a combination of all but you can change it.
- Standard “All” approach: This is the default approach and uses a wide range of high-quality web sources to generate responses. Provides balanced and objective answers based on multiple perspectives.
- Focus on Academic Content “Academic”: Users can request that Perplexity focus on academic sources making it ideal for research projects and university papers. Provides more detailed answers based on scientific research.
- Multimedia “Video” Approach: In addition to text, Perplexity can include videos, images and other relevant multimedia formats in its responses, providing a more complete search experience.
- Searchless Writing Approach: Perplexity can perform text writing without consulting the world wide web if you select this option.
- Computational approach “Wolfram Alpha”: in this case it will focus on the computational knowledge engine. Has the ability to perform complex mathematical calculations, such as integrals, and solve physics problems. Also for the presentation of results in structured formats such as statistical graphs.
- Reddit community approach: search through discussions and opinions.
Perplexity PRO Tips
Remember that in the free plan you have 5 free Pro consultations per day. Don’t forget to use it.
On the left side you can find the prompts that you have used recently in case you want to return to a discussed topic, this is the library option.
To continue organizing your prompts you can add them to collections and group several investigations on the same topic.
There is also the “Discover” section that compiles the topics that the Perplexity AI team has selected. As soon as I saw it I was disappointed, my language was in Spanish and it came out in English, but it lasted a few seconds after using the prompts “translate it into Spanish” and then “give me a summary.”
In the settings you will find the profile section where you can help the AI personalize its responses by telling it a little about yourself, your location and the default output language.
Why use Perplexity AI in your daily life?
Perplexity is a tool that, in addition to being versatile, is very powerful and its ability to provide accurate answers, backed by verifiable sources, distinguishes it from other similar tools. Through its direct access to the Internet and its ability to understand the context of questions, Perplexity AI offers a rich and efficient search experience. As it does not require registration, its use is accessible to all users. This tool, like many other AIs, represents a significant advance in the search for online information, offering reliable and updated answers in real time.
How much does Perplexity AI cost?
Perplexity AI has a free plan, a professional plan, and custom plans for businesses.
The free plan is called standard and for its use it is not necessary to provide credit card information. It is free “forever” and has the following features:
- Unlimited quick searches.
- 5 professional searches per day.
- Standard Perplexity AI model optimized for speed and quality.
- Create a profile to personalize your responses.
It also has the professional plan that costs $20 per month and has the following features:
- Unlimited quick searches.
- 600 professional searches per day
- AI Model Selection: Choose from GPT-4o, Claude-3 (Claude 3.5 Sonnet and Claude 3 Opus), Sonar Large 32k (LLaMa 3) and more.
- Upload and analyze unlimited files.
- View up to 50 responses per day using Playground AI, DALL-E, SDXL and more.
- $5 in API credits.
Perplexity – Ask Anything APP
Perplexity has an application for both Android and iPhone and about which it says: the answers you need at your fingertips.
You can also put it in chrome as a default search or download its “Chrome AI companion” extension.
Perplexity AI FAQ
Is Perplexity AI free?
Yes, it has a free version.
Is Perplexity IA in Spanish?
Yes, you can configure both the response in Spanish and the interface.
Who is behind Perplexity AI?
Perplexity AI is an artificial intelligence company founded by Dario Amodei, Chris Olah, Paul Christiano and other AI researchers. Some key details:
Perplexity AI was created in 2021 with the goal of developing advanced and ethical AI models that can help solve important problems.
The company has received funding from several sources, including Nvidia and Jeff Bezos (Amazon), as well as other investors.
Does Perplexity have its own language model?
Perplexity AI has developed a language model that is considered to be between GPT-3 and GPT-4.
Is the information provided by Perplexity AI accurate?
According to its description, it offers precise and detailed information. However, we are in an early age of artificial intelligence and all of them have shortcomings, such as inaccuracy in some cases or the invention of the answer, so you always have to check the answers. In some comments, users complain that even the same question has several different answers. However, AIs are relatively reliable today.
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