PERPLEXITY: How this search engine works with ia that can replace Google

What is perplexity and how does it work?

In this guide I will explain what perplexity is and how it works. I will also explain what functions it includes to find information on the Internet. If you have never used this search engine based on artificial intelligence, stay with me. Here I tell you everything you need to know about this tool that intends to compete from you to you with Google.

To start, you should know that perplexity is a Internet search engine based on generative artificial intelligence. That means that, instead of providing you with a list of links, as Bing or Google would do, perplexity generates new sources -based content that you consider reliable, according to your consultation. Actually, it is very similar to what Openai proposes with what at the time called Searchgpt and has now been integrated into Chatgpt.

Perplexity It works in a simple way. To search the Internet with this tool, you just have to follow these steps:

1. Access the search engine from the perplexity.AI URL, both from the mobile and from the computer. In Android and iOS you have a dedicated app, in case you are interested.
2. Write your query in natural language. For example, you can use something like “I want to visit Barcelona during the winter and I would like to know what are the best attractions to visit without the need to go very cold.” As Perplexity uses language models to elaborate the answers, you will perfectly understand your consultation.
3. Stay with the answer, visit the links or ask a tracking question. These would be the three options you have after making a consultation.

As for the third option, follow -up questions serve to continue conversation. It is like doing a new search, but without losing the context. Following the previous example, we could tell him something like: “It includes nearby sites, both from the province of Tarragona and the province of Girona.” The model will continue based on the fact that you do not want to go cold, although now it will include other points of interest you should visit.

This is, in essence, the operation of Perplexity. If you want to give it superficial use, it is enough for you what I have explained so far. However, to get more out of it, the best thing is that you know a little better what their advanced functions are.

Perplexity functions you must know

Before continuing, it is important that you know that I have tried everything that I explain below after logging, but as a free user. It is possible that, if you do not enter with an account, do not have at your disposal certain tools mentioned in this guide. And, on the contrary, it will leave me some that are only available if you pay for Perplexity Pro. With this clarification on the table, it is time to review what this search engine based on AI offers.

The three main tools of Perplexity

Perplexity has three main sections:

• Start. It is from where you are going to be able to do the searches.
• Discover. It allows you to know news published in certain media.
• Spaces. From here it is possible to create custom chatbots with their own content and instructions. It is very similar to what you can do with notebooklm.

In essence, these are the three functions of the search engine, although within each one you find many other tools and tricks.

Refining perplexity searches

Unlike Google, perplexity searches can be customized and refine to the maximum.

Following the numbering you see in the superior image, these are all the elements of the search and its function:

1. Search selector. You can select the option Look for, Investigation and Laboratories. Also, within Look for is the option Prowhich uses more resources to improve the results. The option of Investigation It is only available 3 times a day for free users, as well as the pro search.
2. Ideas to search. These buttons only give you ideas to search for perplexity. For example, if you press in Compare, You will add this word to the search drawer. Then you can indicate two car brands, two tablets or whatever you can think of. Something that has happened to me is that, by pressing in these buttons, the Pro search has been activated.
3. MODEL SELECTOR. Perplexity has its own model to make fast searches, although it is possible to choose others. If you do not, the search engine will always use the most convenient according to your consultation.
4. Lift the search. This tool looks on the internet by default. However, pressing this button, it is possible to ask you to do a search in academic documents, social platforms, such as Reddit, or financial sources. You can activate all sources at the same time or mark only those that are needed.
5. Other options. Perplexity also allows you to attach files, use the dictation or start an advanced voice mode, similar to that of chatgpt.

What you can do after searching

After sending your search, you have several interesting options. For example, you have the main sources that Perplexity has used. In addition, it is possible to access Imagesif the consultation requires it. You also have the section Sourcesthat returns a list of the links consulted.

The most interesting thing is that the search field still appears at the bottom. This allows you to ask monitoring questions. For example, after looking for these two nothing models, I asked him which one should stay if I want the best experience in photography.

As you can see, it offers me a series of data that are of interest to me when deciding. Taking into account that both models come with the same processor, I have asked later which one is faster.

In the response it rightly indicates that both come with the same processor, but that the PRO version has 12 GB of RAM. From here, I could visit some of the sources or continue asking questions. For example, it would be possible to ask what users’ opinion is and select the filter Social to get answers from Reddit and similar platforms.

Search and sharing history of conversations

All the queries you do are stored in your account. So you can return to them whenever you want and from any device.

In addition, on top of each you have a button to Share the chat. This is something very useful if you need to send to another person the answers that perplexity have generated from your consultations.

The future of internet searches

Google is already testing its AI Mode outside the US borders. This mode based on artificial intelligence is very similar to what Perplexity already does. Without a doubt, looking for this way is very comfortable, especially if the consultation is informative. You get your answer and go where you have come. And not only that, but tools such as those that I have presented to you today include a lot of filters and characteristics to analyze in depth any topic.

But what about sources? The truth is that Perplexity throws a lot of Internet sites to prepare their answers. That means that, in general, it does not hallucinate as much as those models that only respond based on their knowledge. You can be wrong, no doubt. But in most cases it responds rightly and that is very comfortable. You don’t even have to visit the websites from which you have extracted the information. So what is left for them?