Perplexity AI, launched soon after ChatGPT, has quickly become one of the most popular AI tools. Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity is an AI-powered conversational search engine that delivers results by pulling in sources from across the web and citing URLs directly in its answers.
Recently, Perplexity has been trending for a couple of reasons. First, it introduced Perplexity Finance, which allows users to access real-time stock data. Second, The New York Times issued a cease and desist order to the startup, requesting it stop using NYT content. Perplexity defended itself, saying it doesn’t use NYT’s material to train its AI but does index web pages to provide factual citations in its responses.
Despite these headlines, Perplexity offers plenty of practical features that might make it your go-to search engine. Below are five standout uses of Perplexity AI:
1. Interactive Stock Price Tracking
Perplexity is an excellent tool for stock market enthusiasts. You can get real-time stock data by simply typing in a stock ticker or company name. For instance, if you search “HDFC stock,” the AI displays a live, interactive chart showing the company’s performance, making it easy to analyze market trends in a single glance.
2. Price Comparison Made Easy
Shopping online is more efficient with Perplexity AI’s price comparison feature. By asking “Where can I find the best price for (product name),” Perplexity delivers results from various retailers. When searching for specific products like the iPhone 16, you’ll see several pricing options, helping you find the best deal quickly.
3. Stay Up-to-Date with Current Events
Perplexity excels at keeping you informed with the latest news summaries. You can search for ongoing events like elections or international developments. For example, typing “Track India-Canada row” will give you the latest updates, the diplomatic reactions from both nations, historical context, and global responses.
4. Real Estate and Property Research
If you want details about a building, its sales history, or local market activity, Perplexity can assist you. Users can inquire about when a property was last sold or get an overview of housing sales in a specific market during a given period.
5. Enhanced Reasoning for Problem Solving
Perplexity AI Pro offers advanced problem-solving capabilities. It combines AI’s reasoning ability with online resources to solve complex problems, providing more profound insights. Whether you’re working through complex math problems or analyzing data trends, Perplexity Pro offers a deeper understanding of the issue.
6. Create Timelines to Track Changes
Perplexity can also help you track changes over time, such as price fluctuations. By typing “track the change in price of iPhone 13 in India,” the AI can show you how the pricing has evolved, making it easier to monitor trends or patterns.
7. Quick Academic Assistance
Whether you’re doing research for a school project or writing an academic paper, Perplexity AI can be a powerful resource. With its vast pool of sources, it can help you find accurate information, complete with citations, making your research more thorough and efficient.
8. Personalized Recommendations
Perplexity AI can recommend products, movies, books, or even travel destinations based on your preferences. Simply type in your preferences, and the AI will suggest options that align with your interests, making it a personalized discovery tool.
Conclusion
In the past two years, ChatGPT has revolutionized AI chatbots, inspiring a wave of new AI tools. While not all of these tools match ChatGPT’s versatility, Perplexity AI offers unique features that stand out, especially in research, stock tracking, and real-time data. If you’re looking for a more interactive and detailed search experience, Perplexity AI may be the tool you didn’t know you needed.
