“The Perplexity AI tool combines the worlds of artificial intelligence and the internet as we know it, making it extremely useful for finding answers to questions. Here’s a practical guide to using Perplexity AI and an introduction to the tool’s main features.
How to use Perplexity AI?
“Perplexity AIis available simply online or as an app on your smartphone. Although registration is not required to use the app, it unlocks useful features such as a chat history window, the ability to use the Copilot function or upload files.
Main functions
Using Perplexity AI should be intuitive for anyone who has tried tools like ChatGPT. At the bottom of the window you need to enter a question, and on the left-hand side there is a settings window and a chat history. If you want to start a separate correspondence, just click on “New Thread”. This tool can be used for two main tasks: finding information and finding sources.
The free version allows you to upload 3 files per day and ask for an analysis (click on the “Attach” or “+” button in the request creation window).
Query design and results
When you make a request, you get an answer instantly. Alongside the answer, there are links to 5 more sources for further analysis. To find the sources, simply click on the corresponding footnote.
If you want to know more, you can ask clarifying questions.
Additional functions
Perplexity goes beyond the simple chat function, but you can “pump up” your search with additional features.
Search Images, Search Videos
We can ask the software to find a photo or video related to the questions. Just click on the “Search Images” or “Search Videos” buttons in the right-hand corner. In the paid version, the image could also be generated.
Copilot
If you want an answer that takes into account your context and requirements, you can activate the Copilot assistant (available 5 times in 4 hours in the free version), but it will only work if the answer requires additional information about you or your needs.
In this case, the assistant asks follow-up questions and refines the results according to what you really want. For example, if you ask about how to become a better writer, Copilot asks you about your writing field (fiction, non-fiction, academic). Answering this question and additional ones gives you a comprehensive and, most importantly, personalised answer.
Focus
When you click on a new correspondence, you will see a “Focus” button at the bottom. It allows you to select the type of sources you want: for example, sources available on the internet, academic articles only, or information available on Youtube.
Deep Research
“Deep Research helps you get deeper and more detailed answers. This feature will help you find research articles or, for example, help you exploit market gaps in your content strategy. Here’s how to use the latter:
Submit your enquiry
Make a first enquiry that describes your business and what you are looking for. For example, we have chosen the topic of “sustainability”:
“Analyze content gaps and opportunities in sustainability over the past 6 months. Consider:
Most frequently asked questions not fully addressed
Popular topics lacking in-depth coverage
Emerging trends with limited content
Underserved audience segments
High-engagement topics with outdated information”
Perplexity will start with an in-depth analysis, followed by an answer.
Using Perplexity with Deep Research, you can see how many sources have been used to arrive at an answer.
Look for platforms
You can then ask what formats and platforms would work best for the content suggested above. You can use the following prompt:
“Based on the content gaps identified, help me understand how my target audience in sustainability prefers to consume content. What formats and platforms drive the highest engagement? Include specific examples of successful content pieces and what made them perform well.”
Ask for a content plan
Finally, ask Perplexity to create a content plan. It is best to define right away which social media platforms you will want to use and give a shorter timeframe for planning, for example a week or two. Sample request:
“Using the identified gaps and format preferences, help me develop a 14-day content strategy for LinkedIn and Instagram. What topics should I prioritise? How should I approach each topic to stand out from existing content? Consider current trends, seasonal factors, and audience pain points.”
Better answers can be obtained with just 1-2 questions per query, but if you want to use the tool for free, 5 tests per day may not be enough. For this reason, we have put a few questions in each prompt.
Read more about how to write good queries for language models.
Search Reddit
Perplexity can be combined with Reddit to ask the tool to find answers based on the answers on the Reddit platform. Here’s how to do it:
Set the date
For example, if you simply search for “latest IoT trends”, the search will return results for information that is already out of date. Therefore, if you want your search results to be relevant now, you can add an “after:” advanced search parameter (“latest IoT trends after: 2024-06-01”).
Limit your search on Reddit
Select the Reddit option when you click Focus to make sure your search uses this feature. Depending on what you’re looking for, the Reddit option may be even more useful.
Browse results
Browse the answers and choose from the results and topics on offer.
So, we learned how to use a very useful and innovative IoT tool for information retrieval. This tool will make a significant contribution at different stages of life. It can be used in work, academic or leisure contexts to find the information you need.
