How to use perplexity AI powered search for beginners

Searching for information using traditional search engines can be time-consuming and frustrating because of advertisements and endless links. But with Perplexity AI, an advanced AI search engine powered by AI, finding information becomes easier and faster.

Perplexity AI pulls all the info you need into one neat result, so you don’t have to search multiple sites for answers. Stick around to learn how to use Perplexity AI and supercharge your search game.

Conducting a Simple Search

To search, go to the home page and you will see the “ask anything form” or click Ctrl + I on your desktop. The “ask anything” form will appear, where you can enter your query to get started.

How to Search

searching on Perplexity AI is straightforward and user-friendly. Simply type your query into the search bar, and the AI will process it and give a precise and detailed answer. This search engine uses natural language processing to understand what you’re asking, providing results that are relevant and easy to understand.

Accessing Relevant Content for Your Search

After receiving an answer to your search query, Perplexity AI gives you more content like sources, links, videos, and pictures. Here is how you can access all the relevant content to your search from Perplexity’s response:

• Links: Relevant links to the sources used in the answer are indicated as numbered citations that link to other websites. Clicking on them opens the page.
• Pictures: Pictures appear on the sidebar on the desktop and at the top of the answer on mobile. Pro users can generate images related to their search query by clicking “Generate Image” in the sidebar.
• Videos: Some searches will automatically suggest the most relevant video with images. But to find more videos about your search query, click “search videos” in the sidebar (if you’re on desktop), and relevant videos will be displayed.

If, after reviewing the answer and all relevant content, you still require more information or clarification, Perplexity allows you to ask follow-up questions. Your questions are organized in threads in your library for easy access later.

Taking Advantage of Powerful Search Features

Perplexity has a simple user interface, but don’t let that fool you because it offers many powerful features to refine your searches and get what you want easily.

Focusing Your Search to Specific Sources

One useful feature in Perplexity is the “Focus” feature in the “ask anything” form. The “Focus” feature lets you choose specific sources for your answers.

You can search the entire internet, and academic papers, chat without searching the web, or get answers from the Wolfram|Alpha computational knowledge engine. You can also search YouTube videos, or get responses from social media discussions. Use the Focus options to narrow down your results and find the most relevant information quickly from specific sources.

Using Vision to ask Questions Based on Images

Perplexity AI supports image-based searches, which allows you to Upload an image and ask questions about it. This is handy for identifying objects, analyzing pictures, or extracting text from images.

Attaching Files

Perplexity AI can process and analyze files you attach to your queries. Whether it’s a document, PDF, or image, upload it and the AI will use it in the search process. This is a handy feature you should use for academic research or when you need to reference a specific document.

Creating Perplexity Pages from Your Searches to Reach Your Audience

Perplexity AI allows you to create Perplexity Pages, which are collections of your search results. Save and share these pages with your audience. This is useful for collaborative projects or presenting your search in an engaging way. Currently, this feature is rolling out to a limited number of users, both free and paid.

Understanding Pro vs. Quick Search

Perplexity AI offers two search modes: Quick Search and Pro Search, each catering to different user needs.

• Quick Search: Delivers fast, straightforward answers. Ideal for quick look-ups without deep exploration. Suitable for general questions and getting quick information without the need for comprehensive detail.
• Pro Search: Designed for users who require more detailed and comprehensive information. This mode offers well-researched, detailed answers by first understanding the question and then asking follow-up questions to clarify your needs. It takes into account your preferences and goes deeper into the search to provide precise results. It is ideal for in-depth research or complex queries.

In short, Quick Search is about speed and convenience for straightforward inquiries, while Pro Search is about depth and detail for more complex or detailed questions.

Staying Organized When Using Perplexity

When you search with Perplexity, Your conversations with Perplexity are saved as threads, which include your initial question, follow-ups, and all responses. you can access threads in the library page.

To stay organized, group your threads into designated spaces that can be easily shared. For instance, you can create a space for all threads related to a specific topic or project.

To create a space on the Perplexity website, go to the “Spaces” tab and click “Create a Space.” If you’re using the mobile app, navigate to the “Library,” then select “Spaces,” and click the “+” icon to create a new space.

Using the custom instructions section in Spaces

When creating a space, take advantage of the custom instructions section to provide a prompt that will be applied to all responses in every thread in the space. This can be helpful for:

• Providing negative prompts
• Improving the readability and formatting of responses
• Specifying the role the AI has to take, and more

This feature reduces the need to repeat prompts or provide context for each thread in the spaces.

Leveraging the Discover Tab

The Discover tab in Perplexity helps you explore and find new content. It offers a broader view of the information available online. You can open the pages and news on the discover tab and ask follow-up questions to get more information about a topic.

Ways to use the discover tab in Perplexity:

• Broaden Your Search Results: Helps find more relevant and diverse results by exploring different sources and perspectives. This can be particularly useful when looking for in-depth information or wanting to get a better understanding of a topic.
• Explore Related Topics: Helps discover related topics and subtopics that you might not have thought of initially. Useful for research or when wanting to explore a topic in more depth.
• Get a Broader View: Provides a broader view of the information available online, which can be helpful when trying to understand a complex topic or wanting to get a better sense of the overall landscape of a subject.
• Find New Sources: Helps find new sources and authors that you might not have encountered otherwise. Particularly useful for research or when wanting a more well-rounded view of a topic.
• Use it for Research: A valuable tool for research, allowing exploration of different sources and perspectives on a topic. Helps develop a more comprehensive understanding of the subject and identify potential areas for further research.
• Use it for Writing: Useful for writers and researchers needing to find information quickly and efficiently. Helps generate ideas, find sources, and get a better sense of the overall topic.

Perplexity Settings You Should Know

Perplexity offers various settings to customize your experience. Click the profile icon (or the gear icon next to your profile info on desktop) to access them. Here are some settings you should know:

• Incognito Mode: Allows browsing Perplexity anonymously, useful for keeping searches private. Enable it on desktop by clicking your profile name and selecting “Incognito”.
• Model Selection: allows Pro users to select an AI model and the image generation model to use in Perplexity.
• AI Data Retention: Allows opting out of using your search data to improve Perplexity’s AI models. Turn off this setting if you prefer to exclude your data from this process.
• Profile Settings: Capture your unique preferences for personalized answers in Perplexity AI. This includes details such as age, location, interests, values, preferred tone, and more. These preferences help Perplexity tailor its responses to your needs.
• Preferred Response Language: Override the default response language by setting a preferred response language in your Profile settings, ensuring that Perplexity responds in the language you prefer.
• API Settings: Allows adding payment methods, monitoring usage, and generating API keys to seamlessly integrate Perplexity into other tools.

Conclusion

Perplexity AI is a powerful tool that can change the way you find information online. With features like file attachments, image-based searches, and Perplexity Pages, it makes finding information easier and faster. Whether you’re a student, researcher, or content writer, mastering Perplexity AI will boost your productivity and help you find what you need with ease.