If you’ve just signed up for a new Perplexity Pro subscription or are considering getting one, there are some simple adjustments you can make that will greatly enhance your overall experience.
1
Experiment With Different AI Models in Varied Contexts
With a Perplexity Pro subscription, the AI model is set to the default option, but you have the choice to switch to the latest versions of GPT, Claude, and various other models. Since each of these models has its own way of tackling your queries, it’s worth testing how each performs under different circumstances. For instance, in my experience, ChatGPT Plus tends to excel at providing answers to general knowledge questions, while Perplexity shines in more in-depth research tasks.
In addition to experimenting with different AI models for your queries, consider switching between various image generation tools depending on the type of visual content you wish to create. Gaining an understanding of effective AI art prompts can also lead to superior outcomes.
2
Provide Specific Instructions
Perplexity is adept at generating detailed responses with minimal input, but for even more precise results, it’s recommended to use specific calls to action. For instance, you could request the tool to respond as if it were a subject-matter expert. This approach works well.
Another effective tactic is to engage with Perplexity in a conversational manner. For example, you might try a prompt like this:
Please adopt the role of a linguistics expert and provide me with a list of commonly overlooked differences between American and British English.
Particularly when using AI for educational purposes or studying, specific calls to action can be incredibly beneficial.
3
Encourage Perplexity to Elaborate on Its Reasoning
Perplexity Pro provides an overview of the sources it utilized for research; however, you can dig deeper for a clearer comprehension of how these results were achieved. Simply ask the software to “provide comprehensive reasoning” at the end of your prompt.
By doing this, you’ll receive a list of reasoning summaries at the end of your search results. Each summary will be paired with its corresponding sources, allowing you to cross-reference them with the initial section of your results.
4
Provide Clear Instructions for Analyzing Files and Documents
A common pitfall with generative AI tools is a lack of specificity. It’s particularly important to give clear guidelines when you request Perplexity to analyze files and documents.
No drastic measures are needed; simply issue a prompt similar to what you would use for a regular search result. For instance, you could request a summary of an extensive research report you upload. If you require additional context, feel free to follow up with more prompts or utilize suggested ones.
5
Cross-Check Your Pro Searches with Other Search Engines
While generally dependable, Perplexity Pro may not always produce accurate information. It is crucial not to treat its outputs as absolute truth, especially during detailed research in fields with higher stakes, such as science.
To mitigate any potential inaccuracies, I recommend cross-referencing your findings from Perplexity with those from Google and other search engines. Use similar prompts and search terms to get a broader perspective on the topic.
6
Utilize Perplexity’s FAQs to Enrich Your Search
In my view, the FAQs and related searches provided by Perplexity are even more useful than those from Google. Leveraging these resources can lead to a deeper understanding of the topics you’re researching, resulting in more well-rounded conclusions.
Perplexity offers FAQs at the end of your searches, which you can simply click on for additional answers. Continue this process as needed until you find the information you seek.
Perplexity Pro serves as a powerful research assistant, and mastering its features can significantly elevate your user experience. Many of these strategies are straightforward to implement; start with one and then explore the others as you go.
