What is Perplexity AI? (And Why It Might Replace Google for You)
TL;DR: Perplexity is an AI search engine that gives you direct answers with cited sources. It is like having a research assistant that reads the internet and gives you a summary with footnotes.
How Perplexity Works
Ask a question in natural language. Perplexity searches the web, reads multiple sources, and gives you a synthesized answer with numbered citations. Click any citation to verify the source.
When Perplexity Beats Google
- Complex research questions that need synthesis from multiple sources
- Fact-checking claims with cited evidence
- Competitive analysis and market research
- Academic research with source verification
- Current events with multiple perspectives
When Google Still Wins
- Shopping and local business searches
- Quick facts (weather, scores, definitions)
- Image and video search
- Finding specific websites or services
Free vs Pro ($20/month)
Free Perplexity handles most research needs. Pro adds more daily searches, file uploads, and access to multiple AI models. Try free first — most people never need Pro.
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