Wondering how to use Perplexity AI for research? Search no further because I took my time to explain everything you needed to know about Perplexity AI, whether it is good or bad for AI tools, how to make the most out of it, and what the possible Perplexity AI limits.
But how does Perplexity AI work? How does it understand natural language queries and produce coherent and informative responses? And how does it compare to other AI tools that can generate text, such as ChatGPT, Bing AI, and Google Bard?
Let’s dive in to find out.
What is Perplexity?
Perplexity AI is a measure of how well a language model predicts the next word in a sequence of words. It is based on the concept of entropy, which is the amount of chaos or randomness in a system. A lower perplexity score indicates that the language model is better at calculating the next word that is likely to occur in a given sequence, while a higher perplexity score indicates that the model is less accurate.
For example, how do you think this sentence should end?
“I picked up the kids and dropped them off at…”
A language model with high perplexity might propose “icicle”, “pensive”, or “luminous” as answers. These words don’t make sense; they are random and unrelated to the context. A language model with low perplexity might answer “school” or “the pool”. These are accurate and predictable answers that fit the context.
Perplexity is commonly used in natural language processing tasks such as speech recognition, machine translation, and text generation, where the most predictable option is usually the correct answer. For writing generic content that is intended to be standard or ordinary, lower perplexity is the safest bet.
What is burstiness?
Burstiness is a measure of how predictable a piece of content is by the homogeneity of the length and structure of sentences throughout the text. In some ways, burstiness is to sentences what perplexity is to words. Whereas perplexity is the randomness or complexity of the word usage, burstiness is the variance of the sentences: their lengths, structures, and tempos.
For example, compare these two paragraphs:
Paragraph A: “I love chocolate. It is my favorite food. I eat it every day. It makes me happy.”
Paragraph B: “Chocolate is more than just a sweet treat. It has a rich history and cultural significance. It can also have health benefits and mood-enhancing effects. But moderation is key, as too much chocolate can have negative consequences.”
Paragraph A has low burstiness, as all the sentences are short, simple, and similar in structure. Paragraph B has high burstiness, as the sentences vary in length, complexity, and rhythm. High burstiness indicates more creativity and diversity in writing style, while low burstiness indicates more monotony and repetition.
Burstiness can be used to evaluate the quality and originality of content, as well as to detect AI-generated text. Humans tend to write with greater burstiness than AI models, as they can use different techniques such as rhetorical questions, analogies, metaphors, humor, and personal pronouns to engage the reader and convey their personality.
How Does Perplexity AI Use Perplexity And Burstiness?
Perplexity AI uses a combination of both indexing/ranking and large language model-based search to solve users’ queries. When a user asks a question, Perplexity AI first performs a search for the query. It looks into the search index and pulls relevant web pages, such as the top web pages and featured snippets for the query.
Then, it uses GPT-3.5 to generate a natural language answer based on the retrieved web pages. It also cites the sources from which it extracted the information. The answer is then verified by a Bing-based retrieval system to ensure its accuracy and relevance.
Perplexity AI aims to provide answers that are not only correct but also informative and engaging. To do so, it uses perplexity and burstiness as metrics to evaluate its own output. It tries to balance between low perplexity (to ensure predictability and coherence) and high burstiness (to ensure creativity and diversity). It also tries to avoid hallucinations (making up facts or sources) and repetitions (reusing phrases or sentences).
Perplexity AI also allows users to access GPT-4 for free by using a special command in their queries. GPT-4 is an improved version of GPT-3.5 that has more parameters (the building blocks of neural networks) and can generate more complex and diverse text. However, GPT-4 also has more potential for errors and hallucinations, so users should be careful and verify the answers they receive.
How Does Perplexity AI Compare To Other AI Tools?
Perplexity AI is not the only AI tool that can generate text. There are other tools such as ChatGPT, Bing AI, and Google Bard that can also produce natural language responses to users’ queries. However, Perplexity AI claims to be more accurate and reliable than its competitors, and user reviews seem to support this claim.
One of the main differences between Perplexity AI and other tools is that Perplexity AI always provides sources and citations for its answers, which users can easily click to verify. This adds credibility and transparency to its output and reduces the risk of misinformation and plagiarism.
Another difference is that Perplexity AI has a chatbot-like interface, which means that users can ask questions in natural language and receive answers in natural language. This makes the interaction more conversational and human-like and allows users to ask follow-up questions on any topic for a deeper dive.
Perplexity AI also has access to the latest and most advanced technology from OpenAI, such as GPT-3.5 and GPT-4. These models can generate text on any topic, from science and history to poetry and fiction. They can also adapt to different styles, tones, and formats, depending on the user’s preference.
See also: How To Add Perplexity AI Chrome Extension To Your Browser
FAQs
Does Perplexity AI collect data?
Perplexity AI does not intentionally collect sensitive data. This however means that Perplexity AI might mistakenly but not intentionally attempt to collect sensitive data.
Is perplexity good or bad for AI?
The lower the perplexity, the better.
How accurate is Perplexity AI?
Perplexity AI relies on a Large Language Model (LLM) to provide accurate and reliable information.
Is Perplexity AI connected to the Internet?
Yes, Perplexity AI connects to the internet to provide real time results.
Conclusion
Perplexity AI is a conversational search engine that uses natural language processing and machine learning to provide accurate and relevant answers to users’ questions. It is powered by OpenAI’s GPT-3.5, a large language model that can generate text on any topic. Perplexity AI also has a feature that allows users to access GPT-4 for free, which is the latest and most advanced version of OpenAI’s technology.
Perplexity AI uses perplexity and burstiness as metrics to evaluate its own output. It tries to balance between low perplexity (to ensure predictability and coherence) and high burstiness (to ensure creativity and diversity). It also tries to avoid hallucinations (making up facts or sources) and repetitions (reusing phrases or sentences).
Perplexity AI is a novel approach for a search engine, and it might be the future of search we are headed towards. It offers users a fast, easy, and engaging way to find information on a wide range of topics.