How to Use Perplexity AI: Complete Guide for Researchers (2025)

Byaitoolvs

Perplexity AI is the best tool for research that requires current information. This guide teaches you how to get the most out of it.

What Makes Perplexity Different

Unlike ChatGPT or Claude, Perplexity searches the web in real-time and cites every source. This makes it ideal for:

  • Current events and news research
  • Product research and price comparison
  • Academic literature review
  • Fact-checking claims
  • Technical documentation lookup

Basic Usage Tips

1. Ask Specific Questions

Perplexity excels with specific factual questions:

  • ✅ “What is the current price of NVIDIA RTX 4090 in the US?”
  • ✅ “What are the latest findings on intermittent fasting from 2024 studies?”
  • ❌ “Tell me about AI” (too vague — use ChatGPT for this)

2. Use Focus Modes

Perplexity has specialized search modes (Pro):

  • Academic: Search academic papers and journals
  • YouTube: Search video content
  • Reddit: Search Reddit discussions
  • Wolfram Alpha: Mathematical and scientific queries

3. Follow-Up Questions

Perplexity maintains conversation context. After an initial answer, ask follow-ups:

  • “What are the studies you cited from in the last 2 years?”
  • “Can you compare that to the approach used by [competitor]?”
  • “Explain the methodology behind that finding in simpler terms”

Research Workflow with Perplexity

  1. Start broad: “What is the current state of [topic]?”
  2. Dive deep: Click through to source articles for full context
  3. Cross-check: Ask Perplexity to find contradicting evidence
  4. Summarize: “Summarize what we’ve discussed into 5 key findings”

Best Prompts for Researchers

“Find peer-reviewed studies from 2022-2025 on [topic]. Summarize the key findings and note any contradictions between studies.”
“What are the most recent statistics on [topic]? Include the source, date, and methodology for each statistic.”
“Compare [Option A] and [Option B] based on the latest available data. Cite sources for all claims.”

Perplexity vs ChatGPT for Research

Use Perplexity when you need: current information, citations, fact-checking
Use ChatGPT when you need: analysis, writing, creative tasks, coding

Try Perplexity Free →

Ready to get started?

Try Perplexity Free →

Find the Perfect AI Tool for Your Needs

Compare pricing, features, and reviews of 50+ AI tools

Browse All AI Tools →

Get Weekly AI Tool Updates

Join 1,000+ professionals. Free AI tools cheatsheet included.

Similar Posts