TL;DR
Perplexity is an AI answer engine: ask questions, get sourced answers that link to the web. Its standout features are citations by default, a Copilot/Follow-up style chat, and Deep Research that runs dozens of searches and reads hundreds of sources to deliver a longer report. For AEO, the task is simple: publish clear, verifiable facts that Perplexity can cite and keep your schema tidy. Perplexity, Perplexity Deep Research.
What is Perplexity?
Perplexity calls itself an answer engine. You ask in natural language; it returns a concise answer with citations to web sources, and you can drill down via follow-up prompts. This citation-first approach is central to the product’s identity. Perplexity.
In February 2025, Perplexity launched Deep Research—an autonomous mode that “performs dozens of searches, reads hundreds of sources, and reasons through the material to deliver a comprehensive report.” It’s pitched for expert-level tasks across domains. Perplexity Deep Research.
Perplexity has also introduced Pages, a way to transform research into published articles hosted on Perplexity’s platform—useful for sharing findings and being cited in future queries. Perplexity Pages.
Everyday use
- Rapid fact-finding with links (“What changed in UK student visa policy in 2025? Cite official sources.”).
- Synthesis from multiple viewpoints (“Summarise criticisms and defences of remote-first policies; give me five reputable links.”).
- Long-form Deep Research to plan a purchase, a trip, or a market scan, complete with sectioned outputs and references. Perplexity Deep Research.
Perplexity’s UI keeps the source list visible so you can verify quickly, a design choice that appeals to journalists, academics and anyone who values traceable claims. (See community roundups noting strengths in citation and occasional critiques on niche-topic depth.) Eesel overview.
AEO implications: earning citations from Perplexity
- Publish a canonical facts page (pricing, specs, policies) with dates and plain language.
- Add schema: Organization, Product, Review, FAQ—well-formed JSON-LD helps Perplexity extract attributes.
- Provide primary sources: link to docs, filings, and standards; Perplexity’s citations skew toward verifiable material.
- Consistency across your ecosystem: Perplexity will cross-check; contradictions cost you trust.
- Consider a Perplexity Page summarising your domain knowledge (neutral, source-rich). While not necessary, it can seed credible overviews others can cite. Perplexity Pages.
Strengths and trade-offs
Strengths
- Citations by default keep users close to primary sources. Perplexity.
- Deep Research automates multi-step web analysis and reporting. Perplexity Deep Research.
- Growing publisher partnerships (e.g., European newsrooms) help enrich answers with quality archives. Le Monde.
Trade-offs
- Like all LLM-based tools, it can make mistakes; reviewers note occasional hallucinations or reliance on surface-level sources in niche topics—hence the value of checking citations. Eesel overview.
Tips for non-technical users
- Ask for contrasting viewpoints: “Show me two sources that disagree and explain why.”
- Request evidence tables: “List each claim with the source that supports it.”
- Use Deep Research when you need a briefing you can share internally (strategy docs, purchase justifications).
- When you’re the publisher, inspect how Perplexity quotes you; update pages to address common follow-ups and avoid ambiguity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Perplexity free?
There’s a free tier; paid plans add higher limits, Deep Research credits, and model options. See Perplexity’s plan pages in-app; details change over time. Perplexity.
What makes Perplexity different from ChatGPT Search?
Perplexity has long been citations-first and lightweight. ChatGPT Search integrates more tightly with broader ChatGPT features (and shopping). Both aim to summarise with sources. OpenAI, Perplexity.
Can I publish research from Perplexity?
Yes—Pages turns research into shareable articles hosted on Perplexity’s site. Perplexity Pages.
How can my business get cited?
Ensure your site is crawlable, facts are unambiguous and dated, schema is valid, and provide primary evidence links. Perplexity rewards clarity it can verify.
Is Deep Research suitable for business decisions?
It’s a strong starting point; you should still validate high-stakes decisions against primary sources. Deep Research is built to surface those sources for you. Perplexity Deep Research.
The bottom line
Perplexity is the fastest way to read smart summaries with sources. If you’re a user, lean on its citations. If you’re a publisher or brand, craft answer-ready, verifiable pages—that’s how you get named in the answer instead of buried in a long list of links.
References (Harvard style)
- Perplexity (n.d.) Perplexity AI — Answer engine. Available at: https://www.perplexity.ai/
- Perplexity (2025) Introducing Perplexity Deep Research. Available at: https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/introducing-perplexity-deep-research
- Perplexity (n.d.) Perplexity Pages. Available at: https://www.perplexity.ai/hub/blog/perplexity-pages
- Le Monde (2025) Partnership agreement with Perplexity. Available at: https://www.lemonde.fr/en/about-us/article/2025/05/14/artificial-intelligence-le-monde-signs-partnership-agreement-with-perplexity_6741262_115.html
- Eesel (2025) Perplexity reviews — overview. Available at: https://www.eesel.ai/blog/perplexity-reviews