What is Perplexity?

Perplexity is an AI-powered search engine that answers questions with real-time web data and cites its sources. Unlike ChatGPT, it always pulls current information — making it essential for research, competitive analysis, and any question where facts change over time.

Best prompting structure

Role
Research mode: [your topic]
Context
I need to understand [topic] for [purpose]
Task
Find and summarise [specific information] from reliable sources
Format
Include: key facts, recent developments, and source links
// Example prompt
Research the current state of AI regulation in India in 2025. Include: what laws exist, what is proposed, which companies are affected, and how this compares to the EU AI Act. Cite government and news sources.

How to use Perplexity — step by step

1

Visit perplexity.ai — no account needed for basic use

2

Type your research question naturally

3

Click "Deep Research" for a thorough multi-source report

4

Follow up with clarifying questions in the same thread

5

Export or copy the sourced summary for your notes

Pro tips

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Use "Focus: Academic" to search only scholarly sources

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The Pro plan's Deep Research feature writes multi-page reports automatically

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Ask follow-up questions — Perplexity remembers context within a session

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Great for market research — ask about competitors, pricing, industry trends