Perplexity

Perplexity AI is a conversational "answer engine" that provides precise, well-sourced responses to user queries by searching the web in real-time. Founded in August 2022, it aims to reshape information discovery by skipping the traditional list of links and delivering direct, natural language summaries backed by verifiable citations. Unlike standard chatbots, Perplexity prioritizes transparency; every answer includes numbered footnotes linking to original sources like news articles, academic papers, and technical journals. The platform offers a Pro Search mode that performs multi-step reasoning to break down complex questions into sub-tasks, and Spaces for organizing research topics into collaborative folders. It leverages a variety of large language models, including GPT-4o, Claude 3, and its own custom models, allowing users to choose the engine that best fits their needs. Recent updates have introduced "agentic" features through Perplexity Labs, which can execute tasks like researching, writing code, and generating charts autonomously. It also includes a "Discover" feed for tracking current news and curated topics.