[AI in Action] How to Use Perplexity AI: The Complete Guide to Cut Your Research Time in Half

Did you know the average professional spends around 9–10 hours per week just searching for information? That’s basically losing a full workday every single week!

 

Now imagine cutting that time in half. That’s exactly what Perplexity AI can do for you.

 

 

In this Perplexity AI tutorial, I’ll break down what Perplexity AI is, how to use it effectively, and how it stacks up against other AI automation tools like ChatGPT. By the end, you’ll know how to leverage this research assistant to save hours and level up your productivity.

 

 

How to Get Started with Perplexity AI

Getting started with Perplexity is super straightforward:

• • Go to perplexity.ai in your browser

• • You don’t need an account for the basics, but logging in gives a better experience

• • Free plan = unlimited searches + 3 Pro searches daily

• • Pro plan = $20/month with advanced features

The interface looks familiar if you’ve used ChatGPT or Claude:
big search box in the center, past queries on the left.

 

 

How to Use Perplexity AI: Basic Search Features

To run a search:

1. 1. Type your question in the search bar

1. 1. Perplexity generates a structured answer with clickable sources

1. 1. You can fact-check by clicking on each source

1. 1. At the bottom, you’ll see a “People also ask” section with related queries

SEO bonus: Unlike most AI tools, Perplexity always cites sources. That transparency builds trust and makes your research credible for blog posts, client work, or decision-making.

 

 

Perplexity AI Tutorial: Search Modes

Perplexity offers multiple modes:

• • Web Search → scans the whole internet

• • Academic Search → focuses on papers and scholarly content

• • Social Search → pulls discussions and opinions from platforms

• • Deep Research → runs up to 30 minutes for complex topics (like having a virtual research intern)

To pick a mode:
Click the globe icon next to the search bar, then select one or combine several.

Free users: 3 Deep Research + 3 Pro searches daily
Pro users: unlimited advanced searches

 

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Side-by-Side

Which tool is better — Perplexity AI or ChatGPT?

 

A Cornell Tech benchmark shows Perplexity delivers 23% more up-to-date info on recent events because it searches the live web. ChatGPT relies mostly on its training data.

 

Perplexity strengths:

• • Always provides citations

• • More accurate for facts + current events

• • Great for structured research

• • Export options (PDF, Markdown, DOCX)

ChatGPT strengths:

• • Better for creative writing

• • Great for brainstorming ideas

• • Strong at extended conversations and personalization

In a 2023 Usability Hub study, users trusted Perplexity 37% more due to visible sources.

 

Use Perplexity for research-heavy work and ChatGPT for creativity and ideation.

 

Perplexity Pro: Advanced Features

Upgrade to Pro and you unlock:

1. 1. Document Upload & Analysis – upload docs and combine with web research

1. 1. Co-pilots – task-specific assistants (writing, coding, data, travel)

1. 1. Collections – curated, high-quality research sets (+22% accuracy boost)

1. 1. Mobile App – 1.5M downloads, 4.8★ rating, camera-based Q&A

If research is a big part of your workflow, $20/month is a no-brainer investment.

 

Real-World Use Cases

Here’s how you can use Perplexity in your daily workflow:

1. 1. Market Research – e.g. “Top-selling online productivity courses + pricing”

1. 1. Content Creation – “Latest email marketing open rates by industry”
      → Content with fresh stats = +149% more social shares (Orbit Media)

1. 1. Competitive Analysis – “Top 5 email marketing platforms for SMBs”

1. 1. Problem Solving – “Why did email deliverability suddenly drop + how to fix it?”

All done in seconds instead of hours.

 

Pro Tips for Better Results

1. 1. Be specific – “Email marketing tips for service businesses to boost open rates by 15%” works better than “email tips.”

1. 1. Ask follow-ups – Perplexity remembers context.

1. 1. Choose the right mode – stack Web + Academic for the best mix.

1. 1. Save searches – advanced queries are limited, use them wisely.

Users who stack multiple search modes get 34% more comprehensive answers.

 

Limitations You Should Know

Even with all its power, Perplexity isn’t perfect:

• • Source quality varies – niche topics may lack strong references

• • Potential bias – AI mirrors popular views online

• • Complex reasoning – some questions still need human judgment

• • Always verify – treat AI as your assistant, not your boss

Think of it like an unpaid intern: helpful, but double-check the work.

 

Final Thoughts

Perplexity AI is one of the best AI automation tools for research and productivity. Whether you’re doing market research, content creation, or competitive analysis, it cuts your research time in half and backs everything with sources.

 

If you want to dive deeper into AI automation strategies for your business, check out our resources on Upvantagio.com, where we break down the best AI tools for scaling smarter, not harder.

 

Learn how to use Perplexity AI for faster research. Complete Perplexity AI tutorial with features, search modes, Pro tips, and Perplexity vs ChatGPT comparison. Perfect for entrepreneurs and content creators.