What Is “Perplexity – Ask Anything”? || Key Features of Perplexity

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“Perplexity – Ask Anything” is a modern AI-powered search engine and chat assistant created by Perplexity AI. Unlike traditional search engines that just give you links, it provides direct, conversational answers to your questions. These answers are based on real-time web search and are backed by citations, making them more credible.

In short, it’s like having a research assistant who scours the internet, digests information, and gives you a clear, easy-to-understand summary.

 Perplexity

Key Features of Perplexity – Ask Anything

Let’s explore the standout features that make Perplexity unique and powerful:

1. AI-Driven Search with Multiple Models

Perplexity uses cutting-edge AI models, including OpenAI’s GPT and Anthropic’s Claude, so you get strong understanding and context in responses. (Perplexity AI)

2. Real-Time, Up-to-Date Information

When you ask a question, it doesn’t just rely on old data — it searches the web in real time and brings in the latest information. (Perplexity AI)

3. Cited Sources for Transparency

Every answer includes citations with links to original sources, so you can verify where the information came from. (GeeksforGeeks)

4. Threaded Conversations

You can ask follow-up questions in the same “thread.” This means Perplexity remembers the context and makes the conversation more natural. (App Store)

5. Voice Input Support

If you prefer speaking instead of typing, you can ask questions using your voice. (App Store)

6. Pro Search and Deep Research

With a Pro subscription, you unlock “Pro Search” and “Deep Research” modes for more advanced and guided exploration. (Perplexity AI)

7. Cross-Platform Availability

  • Mobile App: Available on iPhone, iPad, and Android. (App Store)

  • Browser Extension: There’s a Chrome extension, called “Perplexity - AI Companion,” which lets you ask questions while browsing. (Chrome Web Store)

  • WhatsApp Integration: Very cool — you can interact with Perplexity directly on WhatsApp (save a number and start chatting, no sign-up required). (Business Today)

How to Use It

Using Perplexity is quite straightforward:

  1. Go to their website (perplexity.ai) or open the mobile app. (GeeksforGeeks)

  2. Type or say your question. It can be anything — from a quick fact to a deep research topic.

  3. Read the answer. Perplexity will generate a response with citations.

  4. Ask follow-up questions if you want to dig deeper — thanks to the thread feature.

  5. Explore sources. You can click on the cited links to read the original articles or documents.

If you use Pro, you can access more powerful research tools and advanced AI models. (Perplexity AI)

Advantages of Perplexity

Here are some of the biggest benefits of using Perplexity – Ask Anything:

  • Credibility: The citation-based answers make it more trustworthy.

  • Efficiency: You don’t need to open multiple tabs and read many articles — Perplexity summarizes for you.

  • Up-to-Date: Because it searches the live web, the information tends to be more current.

  • User-Friendly: The interface is clean, and conversation-style interaction makes it feel approachable.

  • Flexible: Works on mobile, desktop, WhatsApp, and as a browser extension — very accessible.

  • Research Power: With Pro, you gain deeper tools for serious study or work.

Drawbacks and Criticisms

No technology is perfect. Here are some of the criticisms and limitations that people have pointed out about Perplexity:

  1. Risk of Fabricated Sources:

    • According to a Reddit thread, some users have found that Perplexity can generate inaccurate or even invented citations. > “Complete fabrications … Quotes do not exist anywhere in cited sources.” (Reddit)

    • A research study also found that Perplexity produced fabricated bibliographic references in many cases. (arXiv)

  2. Mixed Conversation Flow:

    • Several users say the chat feels less like a smooth conversation and more like disconnected threads. (Reddit)

    • After a few turns, the sense of context can weaken, making the experience less “chatty.” (Reddit)

  3. Hallucination Problems:

    • As with many generative AI tools, there’s a risk of “hallucinations” — where the model presents wrong or unverified information as fact. (arXiv)

    • An older academic audit found that only about 51.5% of generated sentences were fully supported by citations. (arXiv)

  4. Legal and Ethical Issues:

    • Perplexity has faced criticism for how it uses web content. For example, The New York Times sent a cease-and-desist letter, claiming Perplexity used its content without permission. (The Verge)

    • Reddit sued Perplexity for allegedly scraping user comments at scale, raising concerns about copyright and data usage. (AP News)

  5. Limited Emotional or Personality Feel:

    • Some users feel it lacks personality compared to chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Grok. (Reddit)

    • The tone can feel too “academic” or “research-like” rather than conversational.

Recent Developments

Here are some newer and noteworthy updates about Perplexity:

  • WhatsApp Launch: Perplexity’s chatbot is now available on WhatsApp. Users can ask questions, generate summaries, and more — all without signing up for anything. (The Indian Express)

  • Partnership with Le Monde: The French newspaper Le Monde signed a deal with Perplexity AI to allow its content to be used in Perplexity’s responses, with fair linking back to original articles. (Le Monde.fr)

  • Scrutiny on Scraping: There is rising legal scrutiny around how Perplexity collects data. Reddit’s lawsuit alleges “industrial-scale” scraping. (AP News)

  • Performance Concerns: According to a Wired article, some believe Perplexity sometimes misattributes quotes or fabricates data, raising serious trust issues. (WIRED)

Is Perplexity Right for You?

Here are a few scenarios where Perplexity really shines — and some where you may want to be cautious.

✅ Good Use Cases:

  • Research & Study: Students or professionals needing quick, well-sourced answers.

  • Fact-Checking: When you want an answer with verifiable sources.

  • Learning New Topics: For exploring unfamiliar subjects without jumping through dozens of websites.

  • On-the-Go Questions: Using it on mobile or WhatsApp is very handy for quick queries.

❗ Be Careful When:

  • You need highly technical or specialized knowledge — because AI might oversimplify or make mistakes.

  • You’re relying on it for medical, legal, or academic citations — always double-check.

  • You value a friendly chatbot personality — Perplexity is more research-focused than conversational.

  • You’re concerned about data privacy or copyright matters — check how Perplexity uses web content.

Conclusion

“Perplexity – Ask Anything” is a powerful AI-enhanced search engine that blends conversational interaction with real-time research. Its major strength is delivering answers with verifiable sources, making it ideal for learning, research, and fact-checking.

However, it’s not flawless. It faces criticism around accuracy of citations, legal issues, and conversation style. Users should use it as a strong research tool, but not as a completely infallible oracle.

If used wisely — with awareness of its strengths and limitations — Perplexity can be a very smart companion for information-seeking in the age of AI.

Dharmendra Verma

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