Module 2: Researching like a Pro — Learn how to use Perplexity as your ultimate research assistant.
- What is the purpose of the 'Focus' button in Perplexity?
- It restricts the AI to only search specific platforms, like Academic journals or Reddit. — It narrows down where the AI gets its data.
- If you upload a document to Perplexity, what is its true 'superpower' compared to ChatGPT?
- It can cross-reference the document you uploaded with live information from the internet. — It combines your private file with public web data.
- What happens if you click the three dots on a Source Card and remove it?
- Perplexity will instantly rewrite its answer without using that specific source. — You have direct control over what data the AI uses to formulate its response.
- What is the primary difference between 'Spaces' and 'Threads'?
- Threads are individual conversations, while Spaces are folders that hold multiple Threads. — Think of one as a document, and the other as a folder.
- What is the most powerful feature of creating a 'Space' in Perplexity?
- You can write custom instructions that automatically apply to every thread created inside that Space. — It saves you from typing the same rules over and over.
- How does the 'Discover' feed differ from a standard news aggregator like Apple News?
- Every story is an AI-synthesized report citing multiple publishers, and you can ask follow-up questions. — It is an interactive news experience, not a static list of links.
- If you use the 'Academic' Focus mode, what types of sources will Perplexity ignore?
- Blogs, news sites, Wikipedia, and non-peer-reviewed articles. — It restricts the search to scholarly data only.
- What is the file upload limit for free users on Perplexity?
- 3 files per day. — It is much more restrictive than ChatGPT's free tier.
- Why should you always click on the footnote numbers (like [1]) in a Perplexity answer?
- To verify the source and ensure the AI hasn't misinterpreted the facts (hallucinated). — Trust, but verify.