Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Unveiling The Best AI Assitant (2024 Edition)

The world of AI assistants is developing dramatically more than ever. AI tools such as Perplexity AI and ChatGPT offer impressive capabilities, but which one is better? In this blog, we’ll delve deep into the world of Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT, dissecting their strengths, weaknesses, and ideal use cases. We’ll equip you with the knowledge to make an informed decision about the best AI assistant for your needs. Now, let’s get started!

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Key Comparisons

Aspect	Perplexity AI	ChatGPT
Technology Base	Based on OpenAI’s GPT models.	Based on OpenAI’s GPT models.
Model Versions	Uses a model similar to GPT-3 for generating responses.	Uses various versions including GPT-3 and GPT-4.
Capabilities	Capable of answering questions, providing explanations, and generating content.	Capable of engaging in dialogue, answering questions, content generation, and following instructions.
Interactivity	Generally used for direct Q&A interactions.	Highly interactive with abilities to handle follow-up questions, admit mistakes, challenge incorrect premises, and reject inappropriate requests.
Customization	Limited customization in terms of user interaction.	Offers more extensive customization options, particularly in enterprise solutions.
Integration	Mainly integrated into platforms needing Q&A features.	Broad integration possibilities ranging from chatbots to educational tools and business applications.
API Availability	API access available for integrating with other services.	Comprehensive API access provided for various integrations.
UI	Typically simple and focused on querying capabilities.	Versatile UI capabilities as seen in different implementations from simple chat interfaces to complex applications.
Training Data	Trained on a diverse range of internet text.	Trained on a more extensive and diverse dataset, including books, websites, and other texts up to a certain data cutoff.
Ethics and Safety	Implements measures to handle sensitive topics and misinformation.	Strong focus on ethical considerations and safety, with continuous updates to address misuse and bias.
Real-time Learning	Does not learn from user interactions in real-time to update its model.	Similarly does not update its knowledge in real-time based on user interactions.
Cost	Pricing can vary based on the usage and specific services employed.	Offers various pricing tiers, including free usage with limited capacity and paid tiers for heavier usage and enterprise solutions.

Perplexity AI: Overview

What is Perplexity AI?

Perplexity AI is a smart search engine and chatbot that uses advanced AI to provide clear and thorough answers to questions. It’s built on technologies that understand and process human language, allowing it to offer current information on many topics. This makes it especially useful for students, researchers, and anyone looking for dependable, detailed information.

What is Perplexity AI Used For?

Perplexity AI is an AI-powered search engine with chatbot functionalities designed to be more than just a search tool. Here’s how people are using Perplexity AI:

• Finding Answers: Perplexity AI can answer your questions, from basic facts to complex topics. It goes beyond just providing links and offers concise summaries with citations for reliable information.
• Deep Dives: Want to learn more about a subject? Perplexity AI’s Copilot feature acts as a guided search assistant, helping you explore topics in depth.
• Content Creation: Perplexity AI (Pro version) can help you with content creation by summarizing articles or emails, or even generating creative text formats like code! 
• Advanced Search: If you’re a pro researcher, the Pro version of Perplexity AI lets you upload and analyze your own documents alongside web searches, and even offers an API for integration.

Key Features of Perplexity AI

#1 Real-time web search

Using either Quick Search or Pro Search, Perplexity AI can find the latest information on the web in real time. This feature is especially useful for professionals like researchers who need the most current data for their work. I compared how Perplexity and ChatGPT reported the current price of Bitcoin, which was $72,028 at the time of my inquiry. Here’s what I found out about their performance.

#2 Source citations

Perplexity AI stands out from other AI platforms because it provides source citations with its responses. This allows users to see where the information comes from, which is especially important in academic and professional environments where reliable sources are crucial.

#3 Copilot interactive search

This feature uses OpenAI’s GPT-4 technology to improve search results by asking users follow-up questions and summarizing information. This method ensures users get precise answers, especially helpful for complex queries.

#4 Diverse content handling

Perplexity has the ability to search through code to assist in programming, create tables, solve math problems, and summarize texts. It excels in processing complex questions with its advanced natural language processing (NLP), making it more sophisticated than basic Q&A or chatbot services.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Perplexity AI

Pros of Perplexity AI

• Provides detailed and precise responses, always including source citations for trustworthiness.
• Uses real-time search to keep information up-to-date and applicable.
• Capable of managing diverse content, including text, code, tables, and math problems.
• Adapts answers to fit individual user preferences and past searches for a personalized experience.

Cons of Perplexity AI

• Might not work as well for laid-back or everyday questions because it’s more suited to academic topics.
• The amount of information can be too much if you’re just looking for a quick answer.
• Needs a constant internet connection to search in real time, so it won’t work when you’re offline.
• Since it’s geared towards academic and research materials, it might not interest everyone.

> Related: The Best Guide to Prompt ChatGPT to Write Code Efficiently

ChatGPT: Overview

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT, OpenAI’s flagship and most popular product, has transformed conversational AI by expertly understanding and generating text that mimics human conversation.

Its standout feature is its ability to maintain coherent and contextually appropriate conversations on a wide range of topics, captivating users. Moreover, it now processes visual and auditory inputs, enhancing its versatility and broadening its range of conversational uses.

What is ChatGPT Used For?

ChatGPT, like Perplexity AI, has a focus on understanding and generating human-like text. Here’s a breakdown of how people are using ChatGPT:

• Conversational Interaction: ChatGPT excels at having open-ended conversations. You can ask it questions, get creative with storytelling prompts, or even have casual chats.
• Content Creation: Similar to Perplexity AI, ChatGPT can be used for writing different creative text formats, including emails, poems, scripts, and even code.
• Brainstorming & Inspiration: Need a jumpstart on a creative project? ChatGPT can help brainstorm ideas or generate different variations of text formats to get your juices flowing.
• Learning & Explanations: While not a search engine itself, ChatGPT can be used to explain complex topics in an easy-to-understand way.

Key Features of ChatGPT

#1 Multimodal abilities

ChatGPT can handle text, images, and audio, making interactions more dynamic and comprehensive. This versatility distinguishes ChatGPT from others, enabling more detailed and relevant conversations.

#2 DALL-E integration

By combining with DALL-E, ChatGPT can produce detailed images from text descriptions. This is great for tasks that mix text and visuals, helping creatives and marketers create engaging content.

#3 Plugins and custom GPTs

ChatGPT’s plugin system lets users link to various external services, enhancing its utility. However, this feature is being phased out in favor of custom GPTs, which are already available. These allow users to explore, build, and share tailored versions of ChatGPT.

#4 Code and content generation

ChatGPT excels at creating programming code and various content types, such as marketing materials and stories. This capability is extremely useful in fields like technology, marketing, and education.

Pros and Cons of ChatGPT

Pros of ChatGPT

• ChatGPT excels in conversation capabilities.
• The support for multiple modes of interaction enhances user experiences.
• Continuous updates and enhancements keep it at the forefront of innovation.
• It is user-friendly with ample documentation and community support.

Cons of ChatGPT

• ChatGPT’s broad range may not suit those needing specialized, in-depth information.
• The multimodal features are under development, which might impact their reliability in some uses.
• For plans below the team level, user content is automatically used for training, though users can opt out.
• ChatGPT is sometimes known for providing incorrect answers.

> Related: GPTZero: Your Go-to ChatGPT Detector AI Tool You Need to Learn

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Pricing

While both options include a complimentary plan and initiate their paid subscriptions at $20 per user monthly, ChatGPT provides more versatile pricing options by introducing additional levels tailored for different organizational needs. Specifically, the Team plan is available at $25 per user each month, but this rate applies when the payment is made on an annual basis. Moreover, the Enterprise plan is structured with custom pricing, which allows larger organizations to negotiate terms that best suit their specific requirements and usage scales.

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Core Features

The evaluation of these tools can vary widely based on personal perspective. From AMELA’s point of view, we’ve found that Perplexity AI is particularly strong when it comes to providing accurate information that is backed up by sources, making it very useful for thorough research projects. It also excels in offering detailed and reliable data.

The way Perplexity AI presents this information is impressive as well; it provides a variety of options for what to do next, shows the steps the model has taken, and suggests related topics, enhancing the overall user experience. On the other hand, ChatGPT stands out for its broad conversational abilities, making it extremely versatile. However, when it comes to the depth and detail required for academic and professional research, it doesn’t quite reach the level of depth that Perplexity AI offers.

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Ease of Implementation

ChatGPT stands out as an excellent option for developers and businesses due to its straightforward integration process and user-friendly API, which simplifies the incorporation of AI-driven conversational capabilities into various applications. This accessibility makes it particularly appealing for those seeking to efficiently implement these features without extensive adjustments.

On the other hand, Perplexity AI, although robust and capable, tends to necessitate a higher level of technical expertise for users to fully exploit its capabilities, which are primarily oriented towards research. This focus on research can somewhat narrow the range of practical applications it suits when compared to ChatGPT, which is more versatile in everyday business and development environments.

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Accuracy

Reliable information is crucial, yet it remains a significant challenge for ChatGPT. While ChatGPT often delivers responses that seem plausible and coherent, it can also generate information that is convincingly incorrect or fabricated.

In contrast, Perplexity AI prioritizes delivering information that is both current and supported by citations. This commitment to accuracy places Perplexity AI above ChatGPT in terms of reliability. Furthermore, Perplexity AI’s capabilities for real-time search significantly surpass those of ChatGPT, which continues to provide answers that may be inaccurate and inconsistent, as demonstrated in our previous encounter with the query about the price of Bitcoin.

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT: Conversational AI

Undoubtedly, ChatGPT emerges as the superior choice in this category, thanks to its sophisticated natural language processing capabilities. These advanced features make it difficult to find a comparable tool, especially when it comes to crafting engaging, human-like dialogues that span a diverse array of subjects. In terms of general conversational applications, it is evident that ChatGPT significantly outperforms Perplexity AI, offering a more refined and versatile interaction experience.

Who Shouldn’t Use ChatGPT or Perplexity AI?

While Perplexity AI and ChatGPT both offer advanced AI technologies, they aren’t necessarily the perfect solution for every user or scenario.

Who Shouldn’t Use ChatGPT?

ChatGPT may fall short for users who need very specific, data-intensive answers, especially in contexts like academic or professional research. Businesses or individuals looking for AI tools that specialize in providing current, citation-supported information might find ChatGPT’s more generalized approach insufficient. Additionally, some users might regard ChatGPT as “inadequate” for failing to provide in-depth and accurate responses in situations that demand detailed factual information.

Who Shouldn’t Use Perplexity AI?

Perplexity AI excels in giving detailed, citation-supported answers, making it potentially less appealing for those seeking brief, informal interactions or aid in creating original content. Its strong focus on rigorous research and precise data may not align well with needs that are more conversational and less data-centric in nature.

Is Perplexity AI Better Than ChatGPT? Or Not?

There’s no simple answer to whether Perplexity AI is definitively “better” than ChatGPT. It really depends on your specific needs. Here’s a breakdown to help you decide:

Choose Perplexity AI if:

• Accuracy and Source Verification are Crucial: Perplexity AI prioritizes finding reliable information and provides citations for its answers. This is ideal for research or tasks requiring factual accuracy.
• In-Depth Exploration is Your Goal: Perplexity AI’s Copilot feature guides you through research topics, offering a structured learning experience.
• Advanced Search Needs Exist: The Pro version allows uploading your documents and using an API for integration with your workflow.

Choose ChatGPT if:

• Natural Conversation is a Priority: ChatGPT excels at casual chats, storytelling and open ended interactions.
• Creative Text Generation is Needed: ChatGPT is great for generating creative text formats like poems, scripts or brainstorming ideas.
• Versatility is Important: ChatGPT has a broader range of applications, from writing emails to explaining complex topics.

Conclusion

The race for the most sophisticated AI assistant is constantly evolving, with Perplexity AI and ChatGPT at the forefront of innovation. Choosing between them depends on your specific needs and priorities. Perplexity AI excels in factual language tasks, while ChatGPT shines in creative text generation.

Editor: AMELA Technology