Perplexity AI is an innovative search tool that combines the capabilities of traditional search with AI-powered natural language processing. It provides users with precise and concise answers to queries by synthesizing information from multiple sources.
Unlike ordinary search engines, Perplexity AI does not just return a list of links, but composes a full answer enriched with citations and suggestions for further exploration. By using advanced AI models, this tool allows you to work more efficiently with large volumes of information.
Perplexity AI is suitable for a wide range of users—from casual searchers to journalists and researchers. It can be used both for simple information lookup across various fields and for studying or content creation. And people use it actively—by the end of 2024, the service had about 15 million monthly active users, with around 2 million visits per day.
Key Features
- Fast and detailed answers to questions.
- Synthesis of information from multiple sources.
- Real-time search.
- Conversational search.
- Use of GPT-4, Claude 3, and LLaMA 3 models.
- Ability to upload files for analysis.
- Search modes for different needs (academic, social, video).
- Customizable search with “Focus” mode.
- “Collections” feature for organizing information.
- Anonymous search mode.
- Image generation and simple code creation.
Some features, such as access to advanced models or image generation, are available only in the paid Perplexity Pro version.
Perplexity AI is available as a web service, as well as mobile apps for iOS and Android, and has a Chrome extension. The web version offers full functionality and is convenient for desktop use, while the mobile apps are optimized for quick searches on the go. All platforms share a similar interface and provide the same core features, although mobile versions may have some limitations due to smartphone interface constraints.
Interface
The interface is available in multiple languages (Ukrainian is not yet supported), but it can understand and process queries in many world languages, including Ukrainian. Answer quality may vary depending on the query language and information availability.
Perplexity AI can be used without registration, but after a few queries a prompt appears suggesting you create an account, which complicates usage. Registration not only makes the experience more comfortable but also unlocks additional tools: Spaces and Library sections, as well as site and profile customization. You can register via Google or Apple accounts.
The Perplexity AI interface is intuitive even for beginners. It blends elements of classic search engines and modern AI chat interfaces. The main page features a query input field, and search results are displayed as a structured answer with source links, additional details, and a list of related queries. On the right, there are quick links for image and video search, and an image generation feature available only to subscribers.
On the left side of the interface is a sidebar with several menu items: Discover, Spaces, and Library.
The Discover section is an information hub where users can follow events, news, and trends across various fields—from finance and technology to culture and sports. It aggregates articles from authoritative sources, allowing quick access to structured data and specific answers.
Spaces is a research organization tool that lets you create hubs for working with information. It integrates internal files, custom instructions for the AI assistant, and allows involving other participants for collaborative work.
The Library is a personal repository for saving and organizing information and research. Users can store queries, answers, files, and collections of materials, greatly simplifying future search and work with accumulated data. The Library also supports Collections—structures that help you organize and quickly find the needed materials.
Support and Updates
Perplexity AI does not offer live user support, which is understandable given the service’s scale. However, users can get help via email, the Help Center, or through Intercom (for Pro users). There is a very active Perplexity community on Discord, with about 115,000 members.
The platform is actively evolving. Recent updates include two major features—Internal Knowledge Search and Spaces.
Pricing and Plans
Perplexity AI offers two subscription options: the free Standard plan and the paid Professional plan. The Standard plan allows unlimited quick searches and provides 3 Pro searches per day using the standard Perplexity AI model.
The Professional plan costs $20 per month and offers significantly expanded capabilities: over 300 Pro searches per day, choice of AI model, file upload and analysis, image generation, plus a $5 monthly API credit bonus.
Impressions and Reviews
Overall, Perplexity AI leaves a positive impression. The service stands out with its user-friendly interface, responsive performance, and high answer quality. Additional tools like Spaces and Library add value to the user experience, and support for Ukrainian queries and responses makes the tool even more appealing. Most importantly—all this is available for free, which is a significant advantage over some similar services.
Many users appreciate the speed and accuracy of Perplexity AI’s answers. They also value the absence of ads. Users are satisfied with receiving clear and informative responses without having to browse numerous websites and videos.
