What is Perplexity: Conversational AI Search Engine and How to Use It?

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Perplexity is a conversational artificial intelligence search engine It's changing how we find information on the internet: instead of showing you a list of links, it offers clear answers with citations to its sources. Unlike generic chats, its approach focuses on consulting the web in real time and summarizing relevant information, making it a convenient alternative when you don't want to spend hours filtering results.

The key to your experience is in natural language and transparencyYou can ask questions as you would an expert, and look up the original sources to validate what you read. This addresses one of the major shortcomings of other AI systems, which doesn't show where the information comes from and therefore forces you to rely on it blindly. It also offers specific search modes, a mobile app, and a Pro version with additional features geared toward those who need more power.

What is Perplexity

Perplexity is an AI-powered answer engine that understands context. of your questions and generates explanations supported by real data. It doesn't make you jump from link to link: it synthesizes the best available information and presents it in a concise text, pointing out the source sites at the bottom of the answer. Its goal is to be a simpler alternative to traditional search engines like Google.

The big difference compared to classic search engines is the interaction: On Google or Bing, it's important to refine your keywords; on Perplexity, it's natural to type a question exactly as you would ask a person. The system understands your intent, interprets the relationships between terms, and returns results that reflect what you meant, not just the exact terms.

Inside it works with language models trained to understand human speech. and with a real-time search pipeline. This allows it to capture nuances, disambiguate concepts, and be more precise in long or complex queries, where a keyword search can fail if it tries to match everything literally.

Verification is part of the designThe sources aren't hidden. At the top, you'll see several highlighted links and a button to display the full list of references used. This way, you can quickly check the essentials, open the pages, and, if necessary, dig deeper, just as you would with any classic research.

Another distinguishing feature is that the interface is very direct.. Go to their website, ask your question, and that's it. You don't need an account for simple questions, although registering offers benefits such as saved history and access to Pro Mode features.

How Perplexity Works

The main page resembles a modern search engine with chat features.You have a text field, suggested questions, and, below, focus options to narrow down where to search. The system combines natural language processing with web crawling, selecting relevant content, and generating a short, cited answer.

The typical flow is simple: You ask a question, and Perplexity analyzes the intent, performs a real-time search, compares sources, summarizes the essential information, and presents it with links. For very direct queries, it can add contextual images or graphics, such as a weather forecast, when data allows.

Focus modes improve accuracyYou can tell it to prioritize the general web, academic documents, social media, or even videos. There's also a focus on enhanced writing and math problem help, with integration of Wolfram Alpha-like capabilities for scientific calculations or data.

In the response you will see a source area with several highlighted links and the option to expand all. The three most frequently visited sites usually appear, along with a fourth link to the full list. On the side, when appropriate, you can open images or videos related to the query.

File uploads extend their usefulness: Allows you to upload PDFs for searching and analyzing their contents, and accepts formats such as CSV. This is useful for summarizing reports, locating specific data, or cross-referencing information without copying the entire text to the prompt.

Differences with Google and other AI chats

Compared to Google, the gap is mainly one of interface and purpose.Google lists results based on ranking signals; Perplexity tries to understand the question, searches, integrates, and writes a coherent answer with citations. It's like doing a quick research project: read, understand, and explain with references at the end.

Compared to ChatGPT type chats, Perplexity relies on the web by default and displays sources straightforwardly, similar to services like ZeroSearchIn non-navigational chats, accuracy depends on training and time slices; here, the system can retrieve the latest updates when needed, and this is noticeable in dynamic threads.

There are also important nuances about reliabilityBoth AI and search engines can make mistakes. Perplexity minimizes that risk with visible citations, but it's a good idea to open links, compare, and be wary if there's only one source or if it's weak. The more solid references supporting a claim, the better.

Regarding announcements and noiseMany guides highlight that Perplexity offers an ad-free, content-focused experience. This reduces distractions and potential commercial bias in response composition.

Personalization and context also countThe system can adapt results to your needs and maintain a consistent flow between successive questions on the same topic, ensuring consistent resolution of a chain of questions.

Key modes and functions

Busqueda modsCopilot mode asks clarifying questions to refine your intent; Focus mode defines the scope of the query, for example, prioritizing YouTube videos; and Writing mode generates writing suggestions without going online. These approaches help cut through the clutter and guide you to the type of answer you need.

Sources in sightAbove each answer, you'll see several main links and the option to expand all references. This is an explicit invitation to verify and expand your reading, which is essential when researching or making decisions.

File upload and internal searchYou can upload PDFs and other formats like CSV for direct analysis. This feature powers tasks like summarizing long reports or locating specific numbers without reading dozens of pages.

Advanced Help IntegrationsFor scientific calculations or data, it relies on Wolfram Alpha-like capabilities. There's a step-by-step search mode for solving complex tasks, guiding the process.

Support and appsIt has apps for iOS and Android, and you don't need an account for basic use. If you sign up, you can save conversations to your library and activate paid features.

Practical uses and real examples

Current affairs summariesIf you're asking about a recent change at a tech company or who's running a company after a breaking news story, Perplexity can gather the latest information, cite reliable sources, and avoid unnecessary clicks. Just double-check the date of your sources when the topic is very new.

Sports statisticsYou can answer questions like who has scored the most headed goals in a particular league, provided there's an open database. If you only find one site that compiles it, the answer is limited to that single reference, with the risk of it being outdated.

Variable rates and pricesFor questions like tomorrow's electricity price or the official rate for a technical service, the system usually explains where to look it up and, when the data is available, displays it. If the data doesn't yet exist at the time of your question, it will provide you with the path to obtain it once it's published.

Regulations that change over timeWith examples such as V-16 emergency lights or regulatory changes, Perplexity can clarify requirements and link to official bulletins or websites. Even so, it's a good idea to read the fine print and compare it with the original source.

Marketing and business. In SMEs and small teams, its value lies in reducing research time: it synthesizes trends, compares competitors, suggests ideas for content marketing and helps optimize campaigns with data. Citing links facilitates the traceability necessary in professional settings.

Benefits for businesses and marketing

No ads or distractionsA clean experience allows you to focus on the information. In business decisions, every minute counts, and avoiding noise streamlines research.

Citing reliable sourcesDirect links to studies, articles, and databases provide transparency and facilitate validation before acting, which is critical in marketing, finance, and legal matters.

Customization capacityPerplexity adjusts its responses based on the context of your queries, resulting in more relevant results for your industry, market, or geographic area.

High-impact use casesRapid market research, content idea generation, customer support, and campaign optimization are all areas where it excels at speed and clarity.

Transversal applicationsBeyond marketing, it's useful for project management, finance, and HR to consult on best practices, tools, and new technologies with a nearly zero learning curve.

Perplexity vs Perplexity Pro

The paid version, Perplexity Pro, adds advanced features for a monthly fee.. It highlights the possibility of choosing the AI ​​model with which the response is composed, including well-known options such as GPT-4o, which gives you room to prioritize quality, speed or cost depending on your task.

Daily Pro consultations with better qualityThe plan allows for a number of queries with more powerful models, which often offer more robust wording or better understanding of complex topics.

Files and imagesIn Pro, file analysis is more freely available, and according to public documentation, there are options to generate or present images in some functions, even with different models. Historically, Perplexity focused on text responses, but the recent offering incorporates limited multimodal capabilities.

Model flexibilityBy not depending on the progress of a single engine, you can choose the most appropriate one for each case, which is useful when working with strict deadlines or quality requirements.

How to use Perplexity step by step

Access from the browser or install the app on iOS or Android. The mobile experience closely mirrors the desktop experience, so you can seamlessly switch between devices.

Write your question in natural languageThe more specific, the better. Add context, such as dates, location, or the format you're interested in. For example, it's better to ask for the main causes of climate change according to recent UN reports than a brief climate change.

Submit and review sourcesIn seconds, you'll see the answer and the links that support it. Open the ones that interest you to verify, expand, or save useful references.

Refine with cross-questionsContinue the conversation to ask for simpler explanations, get opposing points of view, or delve deeper into a subtopic, while maintaining the context of the thread.

Create an account if you need more. Logging gives you history, thread organization, and access to Pro mode with advanced templates and response priority.

Accuracy and Verification Tips

Search for credible domains such as government sites, educational sites, or prestigious media outlets. For current affairs queries, prioritize recent articles. And give more weight to answers that are supported by several independent sources.

Check the date and bias of referencesA single outdated source can lead to an error. If something is critical to your work or study, open the links and double-check the key information.

Keep in mind the limitationsAIs can oversimplify or misinterpret an ambiguous question. Rephrasing often greatly improves the answer and the chosen sources.

Privacy and dataAvoid entering sensitive information. Review usage and privacy policies if you're handling internal or confidential materials, and use archiving methods judiciously.

When in doubt, check manuallyThe value of Perplexity lies in saving time, not replacing critical thinking. A couple of clicks of verification can make all the difference.

History, team and financing

Perplexity was founded in 2022 By Aravind Srinivas, Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski. Srinivas, a former researcher at OpenAI, serves as CEO. The company is committed to uniting conversation and search with source transparency.

Products and milestonesAt the end of 2022, they released Bird SQL for searching information on Twitter. Their main product is a conversational search engine that interprets context, prioritizes recent sources, and allows you to save conversations to a library. Official apps are available for iOS and Android.

Perplexity AssistantIn January 2025, they announced a built-in assistant for Android to perform tasks across multiple apps, maintain context between actions, and use the phone's camera to respond to feedback about the environment or what's on the screen. They announced that it's available for free in several languages, including Spanish, although some features require additional configuration and the product is still being refined.

Financing and figuresThe company raised $73,6 million in a Series B round of around $100 million, with a reported valuation of around $520 million. Investors include firms such as NEA, Bessemer, and names like Nvidia, Jeff Bezos, Susan Wojcicki, Jeff Dean, Yann LeCun, and Andrej Karpathy. Despite the size of the round, it operated with a very lean workforce and reported reaching millions of monthly users.

Controversies and challenges

Debate on content use and robots.txtIn 2024, research indicated that Perplexity didn't always respect the robots.txt standard and could extract content from indirect traces such as metadata or snippets. The company responded that it uses both its own and third-party crawlers and is working to refine the details.

Conflicts with the mediaThere was public criticism from outlets such as Forbes regarding content attribution, and in October 2024, notices and lawsuits from publishing groups for alleged infringement. Perplexity defended its aggregation and citation of information and expressed openness to revenue-sharing programs.

Position of suppliersThe infrastructure provider routinely investigated allegations regarding robots.txt compliance, given that its terms prohibit ignoring it. These discussions reflect the industry's broader challenge in balancing innovation, copyright, and an open ecosystem.

Implications for usersBeyond legal considerations, it's practical to validate sources and, when working with protected content, consult the originals. Transparency in citations helps, but the ultimate responsibility for using or redistributing information rests with the user.

Availability, languages ​​and experience

Interface in English, queries in SpanishAlthough many menus appear in English, you can ask questions in Spanish and receive answers in our language. This works similarly in other European languages; in languages ​​with less coverage, you can alternate the response language based on the previous context.

Performance and fluidityCurrently, the service is stable and fast. During times of high demand, activating Pro consultations or choosing alternative models can provide additional speed or quality.

Key idea for daily useThink of Perplexity as a research assistant that saves you time on your first scan and leaves you with the essential bibliography just a click away for further exploration.

Reliability conditioned on sourcesWhen the website doesn't offer solid data, the system can't invent it. If there's no source, it will tell you or direct you to where to get one when it's available, which is preferable to empty answers.

Combining context and citations changes the habit of searching. Concatenated questions, helpful summaries, and quick validation help you work better, whether you're studying, preparing a campaign, or fact-checking a breaking news story.

Perplexity has established itself as a conversational search engine that combines speed, appointments and specialized modes., with a Pro version for those who need more control over the model and workload; used properly, it reduces information overload and helps you make more informed decisions with fewer clicks.