Perplexity Ask: A Game-Changing Search Tool Powered by AI

Author(s): Alexandros Pappas

Originally published on Towards AI.

https://www.perplexity.ai/

Excited to share a game-changing tool that has improved my information search process — Perplexity Ask. Powered by large language models (such as the OpenAI API) and search engines, Perplexity provides quick and explanatory results for my queries. While accuracy is dependent on search results and AI capabilities, I’ve found it to be a valuable resource and have even replaced Google with Perplexity as my go-to search engine.

Introduction to Perplexity Ask

Perplexity Ask is a new search interface that uses advanced artificial intelligence technologies, such as OpenAI’s GPT-3 model, to provide direct answers to questions and summaries and citations for search results. This is a major departure from traditional search engines that simply provide a list of links, and allows users to quickly and easily find the information they need without having to click through multiple pages or search through irrelevant results.

One of the standout features of Perplexity Ask is the inclusion of citations for the search results. This is a valuable tool for verifying the accuracy of the information provided and helps to ensure that users are not misled by incorrect or misleading information. In this way, Perplexity Ask is similar to the Google PageRank algorithm, which uses citations as a way to determine the quality and relevance of a webpage.

Examples of Perplexity Ask in Action

But Perplexity Ask is not just a useful tool for finding information — it can also provide insights and reveal interesting or unexpected results. For example, when I searched for “twitter files, all parts” Perplexity Ask provided a summary of the internal documents shared by Twitter owner Elon Musk with independent journalists in December 2022, as well as citations for further information. The summary revealed details about Twitter’s operations, including how it deplatformed President Trump and how the FBI reimbursed Twitter over $3 million for work done regarding legal process.

twitter files, all parts — Perplexity Ask

Another interesting search I conducted was “what does Elon Musk say about OpenAI ChatGPT” Perplexity Ask provided a summary of the chatbot created by OpenAI, which was founded by Musk, and its relationship to the GPT-2 algorithm. The summary also mentioned that Musk put a stop to the chatbot accessing Twitter’s database to train itself and that he has previously called it “scary good” and warned that we are not far from dangerously strong AI.

what does Elon Musk say about OpenAI ChatGPT — Perplexity Ask

Perplexity Ask can also be useful for finding practical solutions to problems, such as when I searched for “access private S3 buckets securely” Perplexity Ask provided a summary of different methods for accessing private S3 buckets securely, including pre-signed URLs, VPC endpoints, IAM user policies, and configuring S3 bucket access parameters.

access private S3 buckets securely — Perplexity Ask

The Future of Search

In addition to its valuable search capabilities, Perplexity Ask has a few other notable features. It does not include distracting ads and does not require a sign-up or login to use. It also does not collect personal information, making it a secure and private way to search for information.

As AI continues to advance and more powerful language models become available, it is likely that we will see even more innovative search tools like Perplexity Ask. These technologies have the potential to greatly enhance our ability to find and verify information online and will likely play a major role in shaping the future of search.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Perplexity Ask is a game-changing tool that has the potential to revolutionize the way we access and evaluate information online. Its use of advanced artificial intelligence technologies and the inclusion of citations for search results make it a valuable resource for quickly and accurately finding the information you need. With the potential to reshape the future of search, Perplexity Ask is definitely worth checking out.

I encourage readers to try out Perplexity Ask for themselves and see how it can improve their information search process. Remember to not enter personal information and be aware of the possibility of offensive or dangerous content. Perplexity is not liable for any content generated. So if you’re looking for a new and improved way to search for information, give Perplexity Ask a try and see how it can transform your information search process.

Perplexity Ask: A Game-Changing Search Tool Powered by AI was originally published in Towards AI on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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Published via Towards AI