Perplexity has launched its own AI research tool: Deep Research. Like Google and OpenAI, it focuses on in-depth analyses with reliable sources. While OpenAI's version is only accessible to paying users, Perplexity offers a free variant. This could be a game changer for professionals who need comprehensive analyses quickly without high costs.
Faster and more accessible AI research tool
Deep Research from Perplexity is now available through the web version and will soon be on Mac, iOS, and Android. Users can easily select the option via a dropdown menu, after which the AI generates a report that can be downloaded as a PDF or shared via Perplexity Page. The system searches, reads, and analyzes sources step by step, refining its research throughout the process.
Competition with OpenAI and Google
The AI research tools from Perplexity, OpenAI, and Google differ in key ways:
Perplexity
focuses on speed and accessibility, especially for individual researchers.
OpenAI
offers the most in-depth analyses, but only for premium users.
integrates AI research seamlessly into existing workflows.
In Humanity’s Last Exam, a test for academic AI models, Perplexity’s Deep Research scored 21.1%, better than most competitors but just below OpenAI (26.6%). Additionally, Perplexity’s tool operates faster: it generates a report within three minutes, while OpenAI takes between five and thirty minutes.
Effect on professional research
The impact of these AI research tools is still uncertain. While they accelerate analyses, blindly relying on AI can also diminish critical thinking processes. The Economist warns that outsourcing research to AI reduces the likelihood of innovative ideas. Nevertheless, Perplexity's free and fast approach offers an accessible way to leverage AI-supported research.