Perplexity Expresss Search For Latest Pros With Multi-Step Thinking Alur

Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine startup (photo: x @perplexity_ai)

JAKARTA - Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine startup, has just announced a major upgrade to their Pro Search feature. The company states that its search engine is now capable of performing "multiple-step thinking channels," or the ability to assemble multiple online searches to find accurate results and information.

This update also introduces new AI capabilities such as code execution and Alpha Wolfram integration to solve mathematical problems. Although competitors like Microsoft Copilot can also search the internet, Perplexity claims that its AI chatbot can handle much more complex queries. However, Pro Search remains an optional toggle that users must activate on each conversation. Regular queries will continue to use the Fast Search of Perplexity, which studies fewer sources before responding.

Similar to the freemium model GPT-4 ChatGPT, Perplexity offers five "Pro" searches every four hours for free. Beyond that, users have to pay for Perplexity Pro subscriptions, which cost equivalent to other AI services, which is 20 US dollars per month.

In a test since this feature was launched a few hours ago, the Pro Perplexity Search did provide the results as promised can provide a comprehensive answer to a complex question. For example, when Perplexity was asked to compare the results of two stock indexes over a period of ten years while taking into account appreciation between currencies. This results in a Pro search of four steps, which is very similar to how humans find information.

Interestingly, the study found that the upgraded Pro Search only works properly with an IP address based in the US, so this feature may be being launched slowly internationally.

The upgrade to the Pro Search comes weeks after Perplexity was involved in controversy over the use of content from news publishers without permission. An investigation by WIRED suggested that the company had ignored the standard web signal intended to prevent scrolling of their content. Other reports claim that Perplexity tends to rely on obscure online sources, including LinkedIn posts, meaning the chatbot could find and repeat AI hallucinations, such as others.