Look, AI tools are everywhere now. Sorting through them feels a little like picking the best avocado — unpredictable, slightly confusing, and half the time, you’re left disappointed.
But Perplexity? It’s that low-key kitchen gadget you didn’t know you needed until you realized how much time you’ve been wasting.
Where’s Perplexity Fit in This AI Circus?
Alright, so picture this: on one side, you’ve got ChatGPT and Gemini flexing their creative muscles.
These tools? Great for brainstorming, writing, or when you want AI to spit out poetry for fun.
Perplexity? It’s more like that friend who always has the right answer at trivia night — no fluff, just facts.
When to Call Perplexity In:
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You’re trying to figure out if some fancy supplement actually works or just empties your wallet.
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The Wi-Fi’s broken, and Google sends you in circles.
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You want solid, correct info fast — without wading through Reddit for three hours.
When to Ghost It:
If you need creative magic — think brainstorms, jokes, or artsy stuff — Perplexity’s not your best bet. Stick to ChatGPT or Gemini for that.
Oh, And They’re Not Creeping on Your Data (Much)
Perplexity actually lets you opt out of sharing your info for AI training. You still get your chat history, just minus the weird feeling that someone’s watching.
Here’s What to Do:Pop into the settings and click the “exclude my data” switch. Now, you get privacy and your past searches. Easy.
Set It and Forget It (Custom Instructions Hack)
Buried under the profile tab is this little gem — a spot for you to add permanent instructions. It’s like programming Perplexity to always “get” you, without needing to explain yourself every time.
For Example:
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“Explain stuff simply, but don’t treat me like I’m five.”
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“Keep it quick, but if I ask for details, lay them all out.”
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“Give me the facts, but throw in helpful examples.”
Write it once. Enjoy forever.
Focus Mode — Because Not All Sources Are Equal
Here’s the deal — sometimes you need research-level accuracy, and sometimes you’re just trying to figure out if fish oil is still cool. Perplexity lets you pick where it pulls info from.
For Example:
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Hunting for News? Just hit the whole web.
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Health Research? Stick to academic papers — not Karen’s blog.
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Workout Routines? Honestly, social media’s probably your best shot.
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DIY Fixes? YouTube still wins, no contest.
Collections — So You Don’t Forget Half of What You Looked Up
Researching something for more than five minutes? Collections keep all your searches in one place. You can even slap instructions on them so Perplexity knows what kind of answers to give.
Example:
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Planning a trip? Make a Japan collection. Set it to “answer like a seasoned travel guide,” and bam — every response is packed with local tips.
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Work Presentation? You can tell it to write outlines that look like you tried really hard (even if you didn’t).
Where Perplexity Kinda… Trips
Listen, if you need thumbnail ideas for YouTube or anything vaguely artsy, Perplexity’s not that friend. ChatGPT or Gemini? Way better. Perplexity is more nuts and bolts, less glitter and glue.
Skip It For:
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Creative brainstorms.
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Content ideas or marketing slogans.
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Anything that needs flair.
Free or Pro — What’s Actually Worth Paying For?
Let’s be real — you’re probably fine with the free version. But if you spend hours Googling things like it’s your full-time job, Perplexity Pro might actually be worth the pocket change.
What Free Gets You:
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Solid answers.
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Up to five fancy searches daily.
Pro Perks:
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600 searches a day, which, if you need that… maybe chill.
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Generate images (because why not).
Who Needs Pro?Unless you’re doing serious research or generating art, free works just fine.
Things You’ll Probably Overlook (But Shouldn’t)
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Blog Post Generator: Want AI to write your blog? It can. Is it good? Ehh… let’s just say it’s functional.
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Discover Tab: Like a personalized newsfeed, but AI-generated.
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Dev Playground: For tech folks who like breaking things.
The Cheat Sheet for Actually Using Perplexity
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Add custom instructions so it knows what you want from the jump.
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Use Focus to skip the garbage and get real answers.
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Collections save your brain when you’re multitasking.
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Skip Pro unless you’re hardcore researching.
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Mix it up — Perplexity for facts, ChatGPT for fun.
You’re welcome.