Perplexity spaces explained in depth with examples

7 Min Read
Perplexity AI Features
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When conducting research using search engines or chatbots, organizing and grouping related topics can be challenging. Regular use of these tools often leads to a cluttered history, making it difficult to revisit previous findings. However, with Perplexity Spaces, organizing your research topics becomes effortless. You can group your searches and the corresponding responses by topic or focus, making Perplexity Spaces an invaluable feature for anyone aiming to stay organized while researching. This guide will provide you with everything you need to get started with Perplexity Spaces, along with some creative ways to enhance your productivity.

Spaces vs. Collections

Perplexity Spaces are not an entirely new feature, they are an improved version of perplexity collections. Here’s how they differ

1. Functionality

  • Collections: Initially designed to group related pages together, Collections allowed users to organize their research or projects.
  • Spaces: Spaces advance organization by functioning as distinct workspaces. This feature is particularly beneficial for researching diverse areas of knowledge or collaborating on specific tasks.

2. Integration with files

  • Collections: Primarily focused on organizing threads, Collections did not support the integration of personal files directly within the collection structure.
  • Spaces: In contrast, Spaces allows users to upload personal files (such as PDFs, Word documents, Excel sheets) and merge them with web search results. This integration enables users to create comprehensive knowledge hubs that combine online resources with their own data, enhancing the depth of information available for research or collaboration.

3. Collaboration features

  • Collections: While Collections could be shared, they did not inherently support collaborative features that allowed multiple users to contribute in real-time.
  • Spaces: Designed with collaboration in mind, Spaces enable users to invite others to contribute as collaborators or viewers. This facilitates teamwork by allowing participants to create new threads or ask questions within the same Space.

4. Search capabilities

  • Collections: The search feature in Collections was restricted to web searches. To provide the AI with extra information through uploaded files, you had to upload them within a thread.
  • Spaces: Users can conduct searches across both uploaded files and web sources within a Space. This dual capability allows for more tailored and relevant answers based on a wider array of information sources.

5. Use cases

  • Collections: Best suited for individual projects where organization of related content was needed without the necessity for file uploads or extensive collaboration.
  • Spaces: Ideal for collaborative projects, marketing plans, coursework management, and any scenario where merging personal data with web-based information enhances productivity.

In summary, while both Collections and Spaces are designed to improve information organization within Perplexity AI, Spaces offer a more robust set of features that support file integration and collaborative efforts, making them suitable for more complex projects.

When to create Perplexity spaces

Perplexity Spaces can be incredibly useful, but they aren’t for everyone. For some, setting them up might feel like unnecessary work. However, for others, Spaces can significantly boost productivity. Here’s how to decide whether creating Spaces is right for you:

  • Long-term research projects: One of the biggest benefits of Spaces is the ability to group and organize related threads and topics in one place. If you’re researching a topic extensively and expect to revisit it over time, creating a Space is essential. It keeps all questions and responses on subtopics within the broader subject neatly grouped. On the other hand, if you’re only researching something once, creating a Space is likely unnecessary.
  • Streamlining repetitive tasks: If you often rewrite similar instructions like formatting responses or providing context to the AI, it’s time to consider using Spaces. Spaces allow you to set custom instructions that automatically apply to every new thread within the Space. This feature saves you the time you’d otherwise spend retyping prompts, improving productivity in Perplexity Chat.
  • Collaboration and sharing: When collaborating with others on a topic, Spaces are the best tool. They let you share findings, create study guides, and invite others to contribute to subtopics related to the Space’s focus. The added ability to upload personal files, which the AI can reference alongside web searches, makes sharing and organizing research even easier.

How to create a space

Creating Spaces is a straightforward process, but the steps differ slightly depending on the platform you’re using:

  • On the Perplexity website: Click on the Spaces tab and then click Create a Space. This tab also displays your previously created Spaces and example Spaces.
  • On the mobile app: Tap the Library icon, then select Spaces. Within the Spaces sub-tab, tap the + icon to create a new Space.

When you create a Space, a form will appear prompting you to configure its details. Here’s how to fill out each field:

  • Title: Choose a unique name that reflects the Space’s main purpose (e.g., “Medieval Architecture Research”).
  • Description: Provide a clear and detailed purpose for the Space. If you’re collaborating with others, include tips or instructions for engaging with the AI within the Space. This helps others understand its focus and how to use it effectively.
  • AI Model: This option is available to paying Perplexity users. Select the AI model you’d like to use for generating responses within the Space.
  • Custom Instructions(AI Prompt): Add a custom prompt that will apply to all threads within the Space. Use specific, reusable prompts for tasks like formatting, adjusting tone, or providing context on your topic. This eliminates the need to repeat instructions in individual threads.

Everything you configure such as titles, descriptions, and prompts can be edited later. If you used the old Collections feature, all your Collections were automatically converted into Spaces when Spaces were introduced. You can now update or enhance these Spaces by adding files or making other adjustments to suit your needs.

How to use a space

Once you’ve created a Space, it’s time to put it to work. Here’s how to use Spaces effectively:

Starting a Thread in a Space

When you open a Space, you’ll see a prompt box where you can start asking questions. Similar to the main Perplexity prompt box, the one in Spaces has additional options to control how Perplexity analyzes and searches. You can enable features like Pro Search (limited for free users) or attach files to use in the chat.

The key difference is the “Sources” option, which replaces the “Focus” feature in the main prompt box. This lets you choose:

  • Space Files: Use uploaded reference documents.
  • Web: Search online sources for answers.
  • Web + Space Files: Combine insights from both.

This flexibility allows you to tailor each thread’s focus based on your needs.

Adding Space files in Perplexity

Perplexity allows you to upload reference files, known as Space Files, to enhance your research. To add files on the web app:

  1. Click on Files.
  2. Select the + icon to upload your documents.

Once added, these files are available in all threads within the Space and accessible to any collaborators you invite. This feature makes Spaces ideal for teamwork and comprehensive research.

Selecting sources

One of the best features of Perplexity Spaces is the ability to select sources for your threads:

  • Web: Uses only online resources.
  • Space Files: Relies solely on your uploaded files.
  • Web + Space Files: Combines both for broader insights.

You can adjust the sources for each thread by clicking the Sources button. This customization ensures your responses are tailored to your specific needs.

Sharing your space

To collaborate, you can share your Space with others via a link or direct invitation. Collaborators can create new threads or ask follow-up questions based on existing discussions, making teamwork seamless and efficient.

Example Perplexity Spaces

If you’re wondering how Perplexity Spaces can be used, here are some practical examples to inspire you:

#1 Create Facebook posts from blog content

  • Space Name: Blog to Facebook Post Converter
  • Instructions: “Ensure all responses are tailored to young professionals. Use a motivational tone, keep the post under 100 words, include a call-to-action, and highlight relatable and shareable insights. Avoid jargon; use emojis and lists to improve readability and engagement.”
  • Description: This Space helps convert blog posts into Facebook content suitable for a young professional audience. To get started, use the prompt:
    “Create a Facebook post from this blog post [blog_post_url].”

#2 Make Perplexity responses sound natural

  • Space Name: Humanize Perplexity Responses
  • Instructions: “Respond in a casual, friendly tone, like two friends talking. Avoid formal words like ‘furthermore’ or ‘thus.’ Use simple, conversational language and vocabulary. Use formal terms only when necessary.”
  • Description: This Space generates responses that sound natural and conversational instead of robotic or overly formal.

#3 Create a personal study assistant

  • Space Name: Thermodynamics Study Assistant
  • Instructions: “Summarize complex topics, create beginner-friendly examples, and generate practice problems from uploaded materials.”
  • Description: This Space acts as a study hub for specific subjects. It helps organize lecture materials, create practice questions, and review key concepts effectively.

Conclusion

Perplexity Spaces provide a powerful way to streamline research, enhance productivity, and collaborate effectively. By organizing threads, integrating personal files, and tailoring responses with custom instructions, Spaces makes it easier to manage complex projects or ongoing research. Whether you’re summarizing topics, sharing findings, or creating content, Spaces offer flexibility and efficiency for a variety of use cases.