Learn 80% of Perplexity in under 10 minutes!

Summary

This video offers a practical guide to using Perplexity, positioning it as a tool for accurate, real-time information alongside creative AI like ChatGPT and Gemini. It highlights Perplexity's settings for data privacy and conversation history, and clarifies that its Pro version doesn't grant access to other paid AI tools. The video demonstrates how to customize profiles for tailored responses and leverage the 'Focus' feature for better output quality. It showcases Perplexity's capabilities in troubleshooting and compares it with Google search, emphasizing its accuracy and efficiency. The script also introduces 'Collections' for organized research and outlines the limitations in creative tasks compared to other AI. Lastly, it touches on Pro features like preferred model settings and advanced search capabilities.

Takeaways

• 🧩 Perplexity is positioned as a tool for delivering accurate, real-time information, in contrast to Chach BT and Google Gemini which are geared towards creative tasks.
• 🔒 Perplexity allows users to exclude their data from its training process, ensuring privacy while maintaining access to conversation history.
• 💡 The free version of Perplexity is sufficient for most users, with the Pro version offering additional features like more search queries and image generation.
• 🛠️ A myth debunked: Purchasing Perplexity Pro does not grant access to other paid AI tools like Chat GBT, as they use different fine-tuning methods.
• ✏️ Custom instructions can be set in Perplexity to tailor the AI's responses to individual needs, similar to Chat ABT's custom instructions.
• 🌐 The 'Focus' feature in Perplexity lets users specify the type of sources to draw from, improving the relevance of the information provided.
• 📚 The 'Collections' feature is a standout, allowing users to create themed collections with specific AI roles and prompts for consistent, context-aware responses.
• 📊 For tasks requiring factual accuracy, such as troubleshooting or health queries, Perplexity is recommended over creative AI tools.
• 📈 Perplexity's structured approach to generating information, such as outlines for presentations, provides a clear advantage over general search engines.
• 🎨 In creative tasks like brainstorming, Perplexity may not match the output quality of Chat GPT or Google Gemini, highlighting the importance of tool selection based on task type.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of Perplexity in the AI toolkit?

Perplexity is designed for delivering accurate and real-time information, excelling at tasks that require a high level of confidence in the answer such as deciding which supplements to take or troubleshooting software issues.

How does Perplexity differ from tools like Chachi and Gemini?

While Chachi and Gemini are designed for high brain power creative tasks, Perplexity, along with Google search, is better suited for tasks that require factual accuracy and quick information retrieval.

What is the significance of the 'Focus' feature in Perplexity?

The 'Focus' feature allows users to narrow down the sources Perplexity uses, which can drastically improve the quality of the output by tailoring the search to specific types of content such as news, academic sources, or social media.

Why might someone choose to use the 'Writing' option in Perplexity?

The 'Writing' option is Perplexity's attempt at offering a more creative-oriented model that generates text without searching the web, although it's noted that paid versions of Chat GPT and Google Gemini are better at creative writing.

What is the limitation for free users regarding the 'Attach' feature in Perplexity?

Free users can only attach and upload PDFs, not images. However, they can work around this limitation by converting images to PDFs and uploading them.

How does Perplexity provide a set of instructions for a specific query?

Perplexity compiles information from various sources and presents a set of instructions or steps to follow for a query, reducing the need to click through multiple links on Google to find the right answer.

What is the role of 'Collections' in Perplexity?

Collections allow users to group related queries and set specific AI roles or instructions that apply to all conversations within that collection, making it easier to manage and retrieve information on specific topics.

How does Perplexity assist with structured content creation?

Perplexity can generate structured outlines for presentations or other content following specific frameworks, such as the SCQA framework used by consulting firms, providing a solid foundation for users to build upon.

What is the main difference between the free and Pro versions of Perplexity?

The Pro version offers additional features like setting preferred text-to-text and text-to-image models, using the Pro Search feature up to 600 times a day instead of five, and access to the Flux image generation model.

Why might Perplexity be a better choice over Chat GPT and Google Gemini for certain tasks?

Perplexity is optimized for accuracy, speed, and a more search-oriented approach, making it a better choice for tasks that require a high degree of confidence in the information provided, rather than creative tasks which Chat GPT and Google Gemini excel at.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Overview of Perplexity in AI Tools

The paragraph introduces Perplexity as a tool within the AI toolkit, positioning it between high brain power creative tools like Chach BT and Google Gemini and more straightforward information delivery tools like Google search. It emphasizes Perplexity's strength in providing accurate, real-time information, particularly for tasks requiring factual accuracy. The speaker also highlights Perplexity's privacy feature, allowing users to exclude their data from training while maintaining access to conversation history. A myth is debunked regarding the Pro version of Perplexity not granting access to other paid AI tools, due to different fine-tuning methods applied by each tool. The paragraph concludes with a mention of the profile tab's self-introduction feature, which is similar to custom instructions in Chach BT, and the recommendation to customize these instructions for a personalized experience.

05:02

📚 Perplexity Features and Real-World Use Cases

This paragraph delves into the practical use of Perplexity, starting with the 'focus' feature that refines search sources to enhance output quality. It contrasts Perplexity's capabilities with Google search, demonstrating how Perplexity aggregates information from various sources to provide a comprehensive answer, as opposed to the need for multiple clicks and readings on Google. The 'collections' feature is introduced as a way to organize and maintain context across multiple queries, with examples of how it can be used for travel planning and structured presentations. The paragraph also touches on the 'writing' feature, which is Perplexity's attempt at a creative model, but notes that paid versions of other AI tools may perform better in creative writing. The limitations of Perplexity for creative tasks are acknowledged, and the paragraph ends with a comparison of Perplexity's Pro version with its free counterpart, highlighting the additional benefits of the Pro version, such as preferred model settings and more extensive search capabilities.

Keywords

💡Perplexity

Perplexity, in the context of this video, refers to an AI tool designed for delivering accurate and real-time information. It is positioned on the spectrum of AI tools, alongside others like ChatGBT and Google Gemini, which are geared towards creative tasks. The video explains that Perplexity is optimized for tasks requiring a high level of confidence in the answer, such as troubleshooting or making informed decisions. An example from the script is using Perplexity to decide which supplements to take or to troubleshoot software issues.

💡Fine-tuning

Fine-tuning is a process mentioned in the video where an AI model is adjusted or customized for specific tasks or applications. The video clarifies that even if Perplexity and other AI tools like ChatGBT use the same underlying model, they apply different fine-tuning methods. For Perplexity, this means optimizing for accuracy, speed, and a search-oriented approach, which is crucial for understanding how it differs from other AI tools in its performance and output.

💡Custom Instructions

Custom instructions in the video script refer to the user's ability to set specific guidelines for how Perplexity should respond to queries. This feature is likened to ChatGBT's custom instructions and allows users to tailor the AI's responses to their needs. An example given is instructing Perplexity to 'respond like a consultant' or 'use simple language,' which shapes the AI's output to be more aligned with the user's preferences.

💡Focus Feature

The focus feature in Perplexity is a tool that allows users to specify the sources from which the AI should draw information. This can significantly enhance the quality of the output by narrowing down the search to relevant sources. The video gives an example of using the focus feature to search the entire web for real-time news or to concentrate on academic sources for supplement queries, demonstrating how it can improve the relevance of the information provided.

💡Pro Version

The pro version of Perplexity is discussed in the video as an upgraded option that offers additional features compared to the free version. While the video aims to debunk the myth that the pro version provides access to other paid AI tools, it does highlight that pro users can set preferred text and image models, and use a more detailed search feature. The pro version is positioned as a more advanced tool for users requiring higher functionality.

💡Collections

Collections in Perplexity are a feature that allows users to group related queries and set specific parameters for how the AI should respond to them. This is showcased in the video through the creation of a 'trip to Japan' collection, where the AI is instructed to assume the role of a travel agent. Collections enable a more personalized and contextually rich interaction with the AI, as it can remember and apply user-defined roles or instructions across multiple queries.

💡SCQA Framework

The SCQA (Situation, Complication, Question, Answer) framework is a method used by consulting firms for structuring presentations and is mentioned in the video as a way to instruct Perplexity to generate structured outlines for presentations. The video provides an example of using this framework in a collection to guide the AI in creating a structured outline for a presentation on gaming trends, demonstrating how Perplexity can be used for professional tasks.

💡Pro Search

Pro Search is a feature exclusive to the pro version of Perplexity, which allows for more detailed and comprehensive searches. The video mentions that pro users can perform up to 600 Pro Searches a day, compared to the five searches allowed for free users. This feature is highlighted as a way to access more sources and detailed answers, which can be particularly useful for users requiring in-depth information.

💡Labs

Labs in Perplexity is described in the video as a sandbox environment for developers to test and experiment with the AI's capabilities before integrating them into their applications. This feature is positioned as a platform for innovation and development, allowing users to explore and utilize the AI's potential in a more flexible and experimental setting.

💡Creative Writing

Creative writing is a task mentioned in the video where the AI's capabilities are compared across different tools. While Perplexity has a 'writing' option aimed at generating creative text, the video suggests that other AI tools like ChatGBT and Google Gemini are better suited for high-brainpower creative tasks. This highlights the importance of choosing the right AI tool based on the nature of the task at hand.

Highlights

Perplexity is positioned as a tool for delivering accurate and real-time information, as opposed to creative tasks.

Perplexity allows users to exclude their data from its training process while maintaining access to conversation history.

The free version of Perplexity offers a self-introduction section similar to custom instructions on Chatbot.

Pro version of Perplexity does not grant access to other paid AI tools like Chatbot, despite using the same underlying model.

Perplexity is optimized for accuracy, speed, and a search-oriented approach, differentiating it from other AI tools.

The 'Focus' feature in Perplexity improves output quality by narrowing down sources.

Perplexity's 'Attach' feature allows uploading PDFs, with a workaround for images by converting them to PDFs.

Real-world use case demonstrates how Perplexity consolidates information from various sources to provide instructions.

Supplementary information feature provides additional resources like videos to assist with troubleshooting.

Perplexity's 'Collections' feature allows for tailored responses and structured outlines for presentations.

Perplexity's structured approach to data and sources provides confidence in the accuracy of information.

Perplexity Pro offers additional features like preferred text-to-text and text-to-image models.

Pro users get access to more detailed searches with Pro Search, compared to the free version's limited daily searches.

Perplexity's 'Labs' feature serves as a sandbox for developers to test and integrate its language models.

Perplexity is less effective for creative tasks like brainstorming compared to Chatbot and Google Gemini.

The free version of Perplexity is sufficient for most users, with Pro offering enhanced capabilities.

Transcripts

here's a non-nonsense guide to using

perplexity first up while many of you

are familiar with Chach BT and Google

Gemini you might not know where

perplexity fits in your AI toolkit

imagine a spectrum on one end we have

tools like chbt and Gemini designed for

high brain power creative tasks on the

other end are tools like perplexity and

Google search which excel at delivering

accurate and realtime information and of

course we can't forget all the way to

the right in a league of its own we have

the internet's un disputed single source

of Truth Reddit put simply for tasks

like brainstorming editing and writing

where you don't care about factual

accuracy Chachi and Gemini definitely

deliver better outputs but if you need a

relatively high level of confidence in

your answer like deciding which

supplements to take or troubleshooting

software issues perplexity is the way to

go diving right into the settings I

really like how perplexity lets us

exclude our data from their training

process while still allowing us to

access a conversation history under the

library tab I'll talk about the pro

features at the very end since this

video is mainly on the free version but

first I need to debunk a myth other

creators are saying buying the pro

version of perplexity does not give you

access to other paid AI tools like chat

gbt even if you can select their models

here this is because even if they use

the same underlying model chat gbt and

perplexity apply completely different

fine-tuning methods for example

perplexity optimizes for accuracy speed

and a more search oriented approach if

you don't know what fine-tuning means

check out my video summarizing Google's

intro to AI course but the bottom line

here is even if you can select the same

models you do not get the same

experience as the other AI tools next

moving on to the profile tab this self-

inroduction section works just like

chatab BT's custom instructions as in

the instructions you add here apply to

all conversations within perplexity for

example Le my instruction include

structure your writing and respond like

a consultant adopt a conversational tone

use Simple language Etc and since we

only need to add this once to benefit

forever I highly recommend customizing

this to fit your needs if you're feeling

a bit lazy I'll leave a link down below

to my custom instructions and I'll also

leave a link to my workspace toolkit if

you want to make a copy of my favorite

prompts for productivity now let's

actually start using perplexity by going

back to the Home tab where you'll see

the focus feature this basically lets

you narrow down the sources you want

perplexity to use which can drastically

improve the quality of your output for

example if I'm searching for realtime

news like nvidia's most recent earnings

call I want to search the entire web for

queries around fish oil supplements I

would focus on academic sources for gym

workout recommendations I might turn to

Social and if I wanted to learn how to

perform a specific exercise I might want

to watch some videos the writing option

is perplexity attempt at offering a more

creative oriented model and as you can

see it generates text without searching

the web but again in my own personal

experience I found the paid versions of

chat GPT and Google Gemini to be much

better at creative writing the attach

feature is a bit weird in that free

users can only attach and upload PDFs

but not images at the same time though

we can just convert images to PDFs and

upload those so I guess that's a

workaround now let's go through a real

world use case how to force Wi-Fi

connection after connecting to Marriott

Wi-Fi on an iPhone since I chose to

search the entire web we can see that

perplexity Drew from a variety of

sources from Apple's help center to

Merit help center to Reddit post I can

click here to expand all sources and I

can even choose to remove sources that

are outdated or unreliable scrolling

down we see the true power of perplexity

instead of clicking to multiple links on

Google to find the right answer we are

literally giving given a set of

instructions to follow uh by the way

this actually works if you connect to a

public network but don't see the login

page you can literally just type in

example.com in your browser and this

forces the connection on the right is

what I call supplementary information uh

perplexity correctly identified that a

might be easier for me to watch a video

to troubleshoot my issue so provided a

few videos here in other instances it

might search for images to help with my

query here's an example directly

comparing perplexity to Google I search

for a country with with the most gold

medals in the most recent Olympics uh I

actually didn't know the answer going to

this by the way I didn't watch the

Olympics except for the break dancing

part and uh on Google if I click into

the first link it tells me the number of

gold medals each country has won in the

entire history of the Olympics not from

the most recent one which is a little

bit awkward and even more Awkward I had

to scroll all the way down to the fifth

link here for me to find that oh in the

most recent Olympics uh the US and China

tied in the number of gold medals and

that was a lot of clicking around and

reading to find the information we

wanted right when I type the same query

into perplexity we actually get the

correct answer right away and perplexity

even includes a bit of trivia saying

this is the first time in Olympic

history that two countries finish with

the exact same number of gold medals um

in the summer games and Google's defense

I think an apple to Apple comparison

would have been to compare perplexity to

Google's AI overview featur since those

two are in the same category let me know

in the comments if you want to see a

video on that next up let's talk about

my favorite feature and perplexity

collections diving right into an example

I'm actually visiting Japan later this

year so I ask perplexity when to visit

if I want to avoid the peak tourist

season since I know I'll be doing more

research over the next few weeks I can

click the three dots up here add to

collection and click new collection and

then give this title trip to Japan 2

since I already have an existing

collection from previously and down here

I can add an AI prompt that will apply

to the entire collection in this case I

tell perplexity to assume the role of a

seasoned travel agent with over 20 years

of experience helping tourists uncover

hidden gems in Japan when providing

recommendations prioritize local

experiences that are tourist friendly

and now whenever I start a new

conversation or thread in this

collection uh perplexity will remember

to assume the role of a travel agent and

give me answers tailored to my situation

next you have a slightly more advanced

use case as you can see I've instructed

this collection to generate a structured

outline uh for tens SL presentation

following the scqa framework used by top

consulting firms I'll leave a link to

this the full prompt down below now

whenever I create a new thread in this

collection for example gaming trends for

the next few years and the impact on app

developers which is a topic related to

my full-time job by the way uh

perplexity delivers an outline for a

presentation I can start building on

immediately and although this workflow

can also be achieved using custom gbts

and Gemini gems I'm much more confident

in the numbers and data here since

almost every single one of these bullet

points have sources attached to them and

to wrap up you can access all your

collections by clicking into the library

Tab and you can also make edits to the

entire collection by clicking the three

dots here and clicking edit collection

so far we focus on the positives so now

let's dive into an example where

perplexity doesn't perform very well

compared to chat and Google Gemini here

I use the same prompt and ask chat PT

and perplexity to help me brainstorm

thumbnail ideas for this video you're

watching I'm not going to read the

responses but if you pause the video you

will see chp's ideas are much more

creative and relevant and I ended up

creating my thumbnail based on one of

these ideas obviously this is just one

example but I can constantly tell you

that as of right now you're much better

off using chat GPT or Google Gemini for

highb brain intensive creative tasks and

that's also another reason why

perplexity is competing more with Google

AI overviews than gemini or Chachi BT

since AI overviews also provides answers

with a higher degree of accuracy

theoretically speaking moving on

although I pay for perplexity Pro most

users will be just fine with a free

version as a pro user you can first set

your um preferred text to text and text

to image models as mentioned before it

is worth mentioning that uh flux is a

very popular image generation model

right now and generating images is also

a pro only feature in perplexity paid

users can also use the pro search

feature up to 600 times a day as opposed

to just five times uh Pro Searchers

basically takes into account more

sources and the answers are more

detailed than what you would get from a

regular quick search and that basically

sums up the number of differences

between Pro and free there are some

perplexity features I didn't touch on

today today simply because I don't use

them for example if you click the plus

icon here uh you can create a page where

perplexity generates an entire blog post

for you based on your initial prompt and

if I wanted to I could click here to

publish the page and this might show up

in the Discover tab which acts like a

personalized news feed but I'm just not

sure I want to be reading AI generated

articles all day so finally if you head

on over to labs. perplexity

uh this playground acts like a Sandbox

environment where developers can test

out perplexities large language models

before integrating them into their own

applications if you found this video

helpful I have an entire playlist where

I break down complex AI topics for

beginners see you on the next video in

the

meantime have a great one