Perplexity’s free research tool is fast, but will it replace Google?
Matt V
February 17, 2025
PERPLEXITY
Perplexity has introduced Deep Research, its latest AI tool for in-depth research, following similar launches by Google (Gemini) and OpenAI.
All three aim to provide detailed answers with real citations, making them more useful for professional tasks than standard chatbots.
Perplexity’s tool is available on the web, with plans to roll out on Mac, iOS, and Android.
Users simply select Deep Research from a drop-down menu, and the AI compiles a detailed report that can be downloaded as a PDF or shared via Perplexity Page.
The tool works step by step, learning as it goes—similar to how a person researches a new topic.
In benchmark testing (Humanity’s Last Exam), Perplexity’s Deep Research scored 21.1%, performing better than Gemini, Grok-2, and GPT-4o, but slightly below OpenAI’s Deep Research (26.6%).
The biggest difference?
OpenAI’s tool costs $200 per month for Pro users, while Perplexity’s is free with limited daily queries.
Paid users get unlimited access.
A big brain move
Perplexity also claims faster results, completing most tasks in under three minutes, while OpenAI’s tool takes between 5 to 30 minutes.
Comparing the major players:
Perplexity AI: Fast, free (with limits), and accessible for quick research.
OpenAI: More advanced analysis, better for businesses.
Google: Works seamlessly with its existing tools.
While these AI tools make research easier, they have limitations.
The Economist recently pointed out that relying too much on AI for research may limit creative thinking and prioritise sources that are easy to find.
Google’s just sitting there like, “We’ve been doing this.”