Mastering Perplexity: A Comprehensive Guide to AI Search Engines, from Pro Search to Spaces

Last week, I helped a client look up "Taiwan's e-commerce return regulations for 2026." After scrolling through seven or eight pages on Google, I still couldn't find a complete answer. Then, I put the same question into Perplexity, and in three seconds, it gave me a well-organized explanation with five source links at the bottom. I could verify the information by clicking on the links. At that moment, I truly understood why so many people use it as their primary search tool. This article will guide you through getting started with Perplexity, from the basics to advanced features like Pro Search, Spaces, model switching, and its built-in Comet browser.

What is Perplexity

Simply put, it's an AI search engine that provides answers with sources. Traditional search engines give you a list of links to read yourself, while chat AI like ChatGPT provides answers but often makes things up and doesn't cite sources. Perplexity falls in between – it searches the internet in real-time and uses AI to organize the content into a coherent answer, with each sentence numbered and linked to the original webpage.

For people who need to "quickly understand something and be able to cite sources," this combination is very appealing. As an editor, I use Perplexity for fact-checking and background research before writing, and now I almost always start with Perplexity.

What can Perplexity do

• Instant search with sources: Each answer is annotated with reference numbers and links, making it easy to cross-verify and avoid misinformation.
• Pro Search / Deep Research: For complex topics, it breaks down the question into sub-questions, searches, and then synthesizes the results, suitable for research reports or market surveys.
• Spaces: Organize conversations, uploaded files, and preferences into a single space. Currently, Spaces also accumulate memory from your interactions, becoming more tailored to your needs over time.
• Model switching: Paid plans allow you to choose which large model to use for a specific question, with options like Claude, GPT series, and Gemini, each suited for different topics.
• File and image Q&A: Upload PDFs, tables, or images and ask questions directly about the content.
• Comet browser: Its built-in AI browser integrates search and AI assistance directly into the browsing process, now available for free.

Getting started: First-time use

1. Register at perplexity.ai or log in with your Google account. There's also a mobile app.
2. Type your question in the search box. It's recommended to use complete sentences, such as "Compare the differences in team collaboration between Notion and Obsidian in 2026," which yields more accurate results than using keywords.
3. After submitting, read the organized answer. The small numbers at the end of each paragraph are sources, and clicking on them takes you to the original text – don't skip this step, as verification is crucial.
4. Usually, there are "follow-up suggestions" below the answer. You can also ask follow-up questions, and it will remember the context, allowing for a conversational flow.
5. To handle specific files, drag and drop PDFs or images into the input box and ask questions about the content.

Honestly, just developing the habits of "asking with complete sentences and verifying sources" can make you use Perplexity better than 80% of users.

Advanced tips

• Use Pro Search or Deep Research for complex topics: Like "organizing cases of generative AI adoption in Taiwanese SMEs over the past year," which produces a small report.
• Use Spaces to manage long-term projects: When working on a series of reports, I open a Space and put all related PDFs and reference links inside. Then, when I ask questions within that Space, it remembers the context and doesn't require me to reexplain the background.
• Switch models to compare answers: For the same question, if you want more reasoning or better writing, the paid version allows you to switch models and ask again, comparing which output is more useful.
• Specify source types: In your question, explicitly state "please only answer based on academic papers or official documents," which can force it to avoid content farms.
• Use it as a starting point, not the endpoint: I'm used to using Perplexity to quickly establish a framework and find key sources. Before writing, I always click through to the original texts to read them again.

For further reading, I've compiled Perplexity advanced tips and an AI research tool guide, which are worth reading if you want to use Perplexity with other tools.

Precautions and limitations

• It can still make mistakes: Having sources doesn't mean the organization process is error-free. Misattribution and misreading original texts can occur, so it's essential to verify important information by reading the original texts.
• Free version has usage limits: The free plan has daily limits on Pro Search and Deep Research. Heavy users might consider upgrading.
• Pro costs around $20/month, Max around $200/month: Paid plans unlock unlimited Pro Search, advanced model selection, and other features. Prices are subject to change on the official website.
• Depth of Chinese content varies by topic: It's strong in international information but sometimes lacks sources for very local or niche topics. In such cases, don't rely solely on Perplexity.
• Not a tool for casual chat or creation: For writing long texts or generating ideas, ChatGPT or Gemini might be more suitable. Perplexity's strength lies in "searching and answering."

TheAI Academy Review

Review: Perplexity is a tool that combines "search" and "AI answers with sources." It's a shortcut for those who need to verify information, write research, or do background work – but don't mistake having sources for a guarantee of accuracy. Verifying by clicking through to original texts is a step that can never be skipped.

Suitable for: Journalists, editors, researchers, analysts, students, or anyone who "needs to quickly understand something and be able to cite sources." Not suitable for: Those who primarily want to use AI for chatting, writing long texts, or generating ideas, as conversational AI is more suitable for those needs. Use Perplexity as the first stop in your research process, not the last, and you'll be able to use it efficiently and reliably.