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title: Perplexity date: 2024-12-09 10:00:00 background: bg-[#20808D] tags: - AI - Search - Research - Citations categories: - AI intro: Perplexity AI search engine cheat sheet covering search techniques, focus modes, Pro features, and research best practices plugins: - copyCode

Overview

What is Perplexity

• AI-powered search engine with citations
• Combines web search with AI synthesis
• Provides sourced answers in real-time
• Available on web, iOS, Android, and browser extension

Key Features

Models Available

Search Techniques {.cols-2}

Basic Search

Simple question format

What is machine learning?

Specific query

Best practices for React performance
optimization in 2024

Comparison Queries

Compare React vs Vue vs Angular for
enterprise applications

What are the differences between
PostgreSQL and MySQL for large datasets?

Research Queries

Latest research on renewable energy
storage solutions published in 2024

Academic papers on transformer
architecture improvements

How-To Questions

How to set up a Kubernetes cluster
on AWS step by step

How to implement OAuth 2.0
authentication in Node.js

Focus Modes {.cols-2}

All (Default)

Searches entire web

[Focus: All]
Latest developments in AI regulation

Academic

Searches scholarly sources

[Focus: Academic]
Research papers on CRISPR gene editing
safety concerns

Writing

Helps with writing tasks

[Focus: Writing]
Help me write an introduction for
a blog post about sustainable fashion

Wolfram Alpha

Mathematical and computational queries

[Focus: Wolfram]
Solve the integral of x^2 * e^x

YouTube

Searches video content

[Focus: YouTube]
Best tutorials for learning Docker
for beginners

Reddit

Searches Reddit discussions

[Focus: Reddit]
User experiences with the new
MacBook Pro M3

Pro Search Features

Deep Research

Enable comprehensive multi-step research

[Pro Search]
Comprehensive analysis of the electric
vehicle market in Australia:
- Market size and growth
- Key players
- Consumer trends
- Government policies
- Future projections

Follow-up Questions

Pro Search suggests relevant follow-ups

Initial: What is quantum computing?

Follow-up suggestions:
- What are current quantum computers capable of?
- Which companies are leading in quantum computing?
- What problems can quantum computers solve?

Source Selection

Pro analyzes multiple sources

Research the impact of AI on healthcare:
- Include peer-reviewed sources
- Recent news articles
- Industry reports
- Expert opinions

Query Optimization {.cols-2}

Be Specific

Less effective

Tell me about Python

More effective

What are the new features in Python 3.12
and how do they improve performance?

Add Context

I'm a beginner web developer.
Explain REST API design best practices
in simple terms with examples.

Specify Format

List the top 10 JavaScript frameworks
for 2024 with a brief description
of each and their best use cases.

Time Constraints

What are the latest AI developments
from the past month?

Research published after January 2024
on climate change mitigation

Collections

Creating Collections

Organize research by topic

Collection: "Machine Learning Project"
- Saved searches on ML algorithms
- Research papers on neural networks
- Implementation tutorials
- Best practices articles

Using Collections

1. Click "Collections" in sidebar
2. Create new collection
3. Add relevant searches
4. Share with team (Pro feature)

Collection Ideas

Advanced Techniques

Multi-Part Questions

Analyze the following:
1. Current state of remote work in tech
2. Tools companies are using
3. Productivity impact statistics
4. Future predictions

Provide sources for each section.

Comparative Analysis

Compare these three approaches to
state management in React:
- Redux Toolkit
- Zustand
- Jotai

Include: learning curve, performance,
bundle size, and community support.

Fact-Checking

Verify this claim with sources:
"AI will replace 40% of jobs by 2030"

Provide supporting and contradicting
evidence from reliable sources.

Academic Research

[Focus: Academic]
Find peer-reviewed research on the
effectiveness of spaced repetition
in language learning.

Filter for studies published after 2020.

Use Cases {.cols-2}

Research & Learning

I'm learning about blockchain technology.
Explain:
- How it works (simple terms)
- Real-world applications beyond crypto
- Current limitations
- Future potential

Include beginner-friendly resources.

Market Research

Research the Australian fintech market:
- Market size and growth rate
- Major players and their offerings
- Recent funding rounds
- Regulatory landscape
- Opportunities for new entrants

Technical Documentation

How to implement JWT authentication
in a Python FastAPI application:
- Step-by-step guide
- Code examples
- Security best practices
- Common pitfalls to avoid

Content Creation

Research trending topics in [industry]
for content creation:
- What questions are people asking?
- What are competitors covering?
- Content gaps to fill
- Keyword opportunities

Competitor Analysis

Analyze [competitor company]:
- Products and services
- Pricing strategy
- Market positioning
- Recent news and developments
- Customer reviews and feedback

Decision Making

I'm deciding between AWS, GCP, and Azure
for a startup. Compare:
- Pricing for small scale
- Ease of use
- Available services
- Learning resources
- Startup programs/credits

API Usage

Basic Request

import requests

url = "https://api.perplexity.ai/chat/completions"
headers = {
    "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
    "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

data = {
    "model": "sonar-pro",
    "messages": [
        {"role": "user", "content": "What is quantum computing?"}
    ]
}

response = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers)
print(response.json())

With System Prompt

data = {
    "model": "sonar-pro",
    "messages": [
        {
            "role": "system",
            "content": "You are a technical research assistant."
        },
        {
            "role": "user",
            "content": "Explain microservices architecture"
        }
    ]
}

Streaming Response

data = {
    "model": "sonar-pro",
    "messages": [...],
    "stream": True
}

response = requests.post(url, json=data, headers=headers, stream=True)
for line in response.iter_lines():
    if line:
        print(line.decode())

Browser Extension

Quick Search

• Highlight text on any webpage
• Right-click and select "Ask Perplexity"
• Get instant AI-powered answers

Page Summary

• Click extension on any page
• Select "Summarize this page"
• Get key points with sources

Quick Commands

Keyboard Shortcuts

Web Interface

Best Practices

For Better Results

1. Be specific - Include relevant details
2. Add context - Explain your background/needs
3. Use Focus modes - Match mode to query type
4. Follow up - Ask clarifying questions
5. Verify sources - Check the cited links

For Research

1. Start with broad query
2. Use Pro Search for depth
3. Save to Collections
4. Follow up on interesting points
5. Cross-reference sources
6. Export findings

Citation Tips

• Always check source reliability
• Look for primary sources
• Note publication dates
• Consider source bias
• Use academic focus for scholarly needs

Pro vs Free

Free Tier

• Basic searches
• Limited Pro searches per day
• Standard models
• Basic collections

Pro Features

• Unlimited Pro searches
• Access to GPT-4, Claude
• Advanced file uploads
• Team collaboration
• API access
• Priority support