Perplexity: The Search Engine That Actually Explains Things

Remember the last time you fell down a Google rabbit hole, clicking through endless links just to piece together a simple answer? That's exactly what Perplexity is trying to fix. Their new Mac app combines the reach of a search engine with the brains of an AI assistant right on your desktop – and unlike Siri, it actually knows what it's talking about.

At its core, Perplexity is a smarter way to search the web. Instead of bombarding you with a wall of links, it pulls information from across the internet and serves up clear, concise answers. Think of it as having a really smart research assistant who reads everything for you and gives you the highlights. Plus, it can talk back (in a good way) – you can speak your questions and listen to answers if you're tired of staring at screens.

How Does It Work?

Let’s break it down. You type—or, if you’re fancy, speak—your query into Perplexity. Instead of drowning you in ads, irrelevant links, and “Did you mean…?” suggestions, it pulls data from across the web—often just from a Google search—and quickly summarizes the links using multiple advanced AI models, including GPT-4, Claude, and its proprietary models. 

It also provides a list of suggested follow-up questions based on the query, along with relevant sources for the statements in the answer. While some criticize it for merely acting as a connector between Google search and ChatGPT and other models, its interface still makes it a useful tool.

Standout Features

Ah, the features—the place where apps live or die. Here's what makes Perplexity interesting:

1. Voice-Activated Queries: Forget typing! Perplexity lets you go hands-free with voice commands. It’s like Alexa but with brains.
2. Smart Summaries: Instead of throwing a dozen search results at you, it gives you a thoughtful, researched answer. 
3. Listen While You Work: It'll read answers back to you, which is surprisingly handy when you're multitasking
4. Two Search Modes: Quick Search for fast facts, and Pro Search when you need the deep dive

Plus, it offers a Pro mode that's basically research-paper mode – great for tackling complex questions about programming, math, or anything that needs step-by-step explanation.

Interface & Usability

No app is perfect, right? Well, Perplexity has a few quirks. On the plus side, it’s fast, intuitive, and its conversational tone makes it feel less like you’re interacting with a typical large language model. The app also provides references for its conclusions, allowing you to dig deeper—though this feature comes directly from the web version, where most of the praise seems to end.

Given that the app was just released a few days ago, there are already a few UI issues to iron out. For instance, the aggressive hijacking of system-wide shortcuts like ⌘⇧P (Text Search) and ⌘⇧V (Voice Search) disrupted several of my workflows. While the app suggests changing these shortcuts, let’s be real—ain’t nobody got time for that.

There have also been reports of high CPU usage, which is concerning for an app that’s essentially a chat interface.

Pricing: The Perplexity Gamble

Perplexity AI offers a flexible, tiered pricing model to suit different user needs which is quite nice but leaves us wondering how it's going to survive long term especially compared to Google's "free" model.

1. Standard Plan: Free of charge, this plan includes unlimited quick searches with access to limited Pro features. It’s perfect for casual users who need fast answers without diving into the more advanced functionality.
2. Pro Plan: For $20 per month, or $200 annually, the Pro Plan unlocks the full suite of advanced features, including access to more powerful AI models, unlimited file uploads, and comprehensive research tools. This is ideal for power users who need deeper insights and more flexibility in their queries.
3. Enterprise Plan: Designed for businesses with more extensive needs, the Enterprise Plan is based on API usage. Pricing depends on token-based costs and fixed prices per request, making it customizable for larger operations that rely on heavy data processing and advanced research capabilities.

Each plan is tailored to meet the specific needs of different types of users, from individuals seeking fast information to businesses requiring robust, scalable solutions.

About The Company

Perplexity AI, founded in 2022 by ex-OpenAI, Meta, and Quora engineers, has been making waves in the AI search market since. With $165 million in funding and a $3 billion valuation by mid-2024, it handles 15 million daily queries. The company’s model blends free AI search, premium subscriptions, and enterprise solutions, with plans for advertising and publisher partnerships.

Verdict

In a world where Google's been the only game in town for too long, Perplexity is a breath of fresh air. It's not perfect, but it's trying something new – and mostly succeeding. If you're tired of playing connect-the-dots with search results and want straight answers outside of the browser, give it a shot. Just maybe keep the Activity Monitor open to watch that CPU usage.

Have you tried Perplexity or other search tools? Share your experiences with @todayonmac on X! Until next time.