Hey Welcome Back,

After a break I'm back active in this Newsletter. This Newsletter will go out at 8pm EST. If you want to follow me on social I'm active on Threads here and LinkedIn here. Today I wanted to talk about Perplexity as an AI Tool.

"We're entering an era where the boundaries between human knowledge and machine intelligence are becoming increasingly blurred. The key to success will be learning how to dance with these AI tools, leveraging their strengths while applying our uniquely human creativity and critical thinking." - Alex

This is a guest post by Alex McFarland - if you enjoy the post please subscribe to The Disruptor. If you want to give this post a ❤️ like, please do it here.

Perplexity is now the top AI tool for professionals especially those in white collar positions and roles. But how to use it? This is a short guide to give you some more tips. Consider trying the Professional version of Perplexity Pro to test out its true capabilities. We are not affiliated with this brand at all and this is not an affiliate link.

5 Recent Posts by the Guest Author:

How to use Perplexity in your daily workflow

I barely use Google anymore (for anything).

You never realize how outdated Google Search actually is until you try Perplexity. These days, I find myself barely touching Google for any of my research. It just doesn't make sense anymore. When I'm crafting articles for my clients or publications, Perplexity has become my secret weapon. I uncover exactly what I need in record time, with multiple sources served up on a silver platter, ready for deeper exploration.

The search experience is light-years ahead of anything we've had with Google.

But don't just take my word for it. Let's put Perplexity through its paces.

I'm about to show you how Perplexity is redefining what it means to research in the age of AI. Whether you're an enterprise, entrepreneur, content creator, researcher, or just someone who wants to learn efficiently, you're going to love it.

Perplexity: Not the search engine you’re used to

Let's dive into the nuts and bolts of what makes Perplexity tick. Unlike traditional search engines that just serve up a list of links, Perplexity is like having a team of tireless researchers working for you 24/7.

When you type a query into Perplexity, it doesn't just match keywords.

Instead, it:

Scours the live internet for the most up-to-date information
Analyzes multiple sources to understand context and relevance
Uses advanced AI to synthesize the information into a coherent answer
Presents you with a concise, tailored response to your specific query

It's like having an assistant who reads the entire internet in seconds and then explains it to you in plain English. Powerful.

Key features that will make you forget about Google

Real-time information gathering

Perplexity doesn't rely on a static database. It's constantly pulling fresh information from across the web. This means you're always getting the most current data available.

Try this: Ask Perplexity about the latest developments or news in robotics. You'll get up-to-the-minute info that even the most recent textbook can't match.

Concise, AI-generated answers

Gone are the days of skimming through pages of search results. Perplexity gives you a clear, to-the-point answer right off the bat.

Source citations

Trust is crucial in the age of misinformation. Perplexity doesn't just give you answers; it shows its work. Every piece of information comes with a clickable source, so you can always verify the facts yourself.

Follow-up questions

This is one of my favorite parts and is where Perplexity really shines. It anticipates what you might want to know next. I feel like it knows better what we want than we know ourselves. (This is the future of AI…)

Perplexity in action: Real-world research examples

Let's put Perplexity through its paces with some practical examples:

Preparing a tech article on AI ethics

Planning a health-focused vacation

Understanding the best tools for a specific use case

While Perplexity is impressive, how does it stack up against ChatGPT?

Perplexity vs. ChatGPT:

Perplexity: Real-time information, source citations, more focused on search and research
ChatGPT: Better for creative tasks, coding, and open-ended conversations

Pro tip: Use Perplexity for research and fact-finding, then switch to ChatGPT or Claude 3 for tasks that require more creativity, complex problem-solving. or long-form writing.

Take things even further with Perplexity Pro

Pro Search takes Perplexity to the next level. It's like having an AI that asks clarifying questions to ensure it fully understands your query before answering.

With Pro Search, Perplexity often asks follow-up questions before providing a tailored answer.

Perplexity Pro lets you choose between different AI models for your queries:

Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Anthropic’s new model)
Sonar Large 32K
GPT-4o
Claude 3 Opus

Experiment with different models to find the perfect fit for your research needs.

By mastering these features, you'll be researching like an AI pro in no time.

Maximize your Perplexity productivity through these tips

The key to getting the most out of Perplexity lies in how you ask your questions.

Here are some actionable tips:

Be specific: Instead of "Tell me about AI," try "Explain the key differences between narrow AI and artificial general intelligence, including current capabilities and future projections."
Use context: Frame your query with relevant background. For example: "I'm writing an article on sustainable fashion. What are the latest innovations in eco-friendly textile production?"
Break complex questions into parts: For multi-faceted topics, use a series of related queries to build a comprehensive understanding.
Leverage follow-ups: Use Perplexity's suggested follow-up questions or craft your own to dive deeper into a topic.

Organizing your research with collections

Perplexity's collections feature is like having your own personal library of curated knowledge.

Here's how to make the most of it:

Create topic-specific collections: For example, "AI Blog Writing," "Quantum Computing," or "Climate Tech Innovations."
Use descriptive titles: Make your collections easy to navigate with clear, specific names.
Add custom AI prompts: Tailor each collection with a specific AI prompt to guide future searches within that topic.
Regularly review and curate: Keep your collections up-to-date by periodically reviewing and refining the content.

Implement Perplexity into your daily workflow to get ahead of everyone

Make Perplexity your go-to research companion with these strategies:

Morning briefings: Start your day by asking Perplexity for the latest news in your field. (I personally like to use Perplexity to curate the top AI news of the day to consider writing about for Unite AI and Techopedia.)
Fact-checking: Use it to quickly verify information before including it in your work.
Brainstorming: Generate ideas for projects or content by asking open-ended questions.
Learning new concepts: When you encounter an unfamiliar term or idea, turn to Perplexity for a quick, comprehensive explanation.
Writing assistance: Use it to find relevant statistics, examples, or counterarguments for your content.

Pro tip: Install the Perplexity browser extension for instant access during your web browsing sessions.

Remember, the key is to use the right tool for the right job. Perplexity is your Swiss Army knife.

Perplexity is changing the way you should approach online research. Let's recap the key benefits:

Real-time, up-to-date information at your fingertips
Concise, AI-generated answers that save you time and effort
Transparent source citations for easy fact-checking
Intelligent follow-up questions that deepen your understanding
Advanced features like Pro Search and model selection for tailored results

But don't just take my word for it. I challenge you to make Perplexity your primary research tool for the next week. Whether you're working on a big project, writing an article, or just satisfying your curiosity about the world, give it a shot and let me know how it goes.

- Alex (Creator of AI Disruptor)

Michael Kevin Spencer

White Collar Professionals are using Perplexity Now