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On Thu, 13 Feb, 8:02 AM UTC
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[1]
Perplexity is the AI tool Google wishes Gemini could be
I'm an Android user and have been since version 1.5 of the OS. Over the past year or so, Google has switched its default assistant to its powerful AI solution, Gemini. For a while, I used Gemini on Android to get answers to my questions. I even made use of Gemini Live (which is quite impressive). But recently, I've been defaulting to a different AI service, Perplexity. I've installed the Perplexity app on Android, Linux, and MacOS, and set it as the default search engine in my web browser. Although I prefer using local AI (such as the Ollama/Msty combination), there are times when I need more or something faster than a local AI can deliver. On top of that, my locally installed AI doesn't have access to real-time data, so it can't tell me what's in the news today. But why Perplexity over Gemini? Also: How I made Perplexity AI the default search engine in my browser (and why you should too) For starters, you can't switch from Gemini to Perplexity as the Android default digital assistant, and I doubt that will ever be possible. You can, however, use Perplexity on your phone, desktop, and laptop as the default AI tool. Let me explain why you might want to do that. For me, this is the biggest reason to switch to Perplexity. I've been using AI as a search engine for some time now. Why? The main reason is I find Google far less effective than it once was. When I'm doing research, I need answers fast and would rather not have to wade through sponsored sites or sites that contain so many ads that they render my browser unusable. One thing about Gemini is that you can certainly head to the Gemini website and use it, but you can't set it as the default search engine in your web browser. On the other hand, you can do this with Perplexity, and that, for me, is a deal-maker. After comparing both Gemini and Perplexity for a few weeks, I've found Perplexity not only gives better answers (with more description and context) but the answers are also more accurate. I've found Gemini to produce subtle inaccuracies fairly regularly, but I have yet to find fault in a Perplexity response. That's not to say they aren't there, but they've not been nearly as obvious as what I generally found with Gemini. I'm not saying that Gemini is always or often wrong, but in the comparison, Gemini delivered less accurate responses overall. On top of all this, the response detail in Perplexity is much higher than Gemini. One issue I've had with Gemini is that when you ask it to help you solve something, it tends to respond with simple bullet points. Yes, such lists make the responses easy to read, but they lack the depth of knowledge I require. That's just me. Most people prefer quick bullet points so they can quickly scan them and be on their way. I want context. I want to know why a step is taken instead of just the step. One of my favorite features of Perplexity is the "Ask follow-up" option. I can ask it a question, and once it gives me an answer, I can type a follow-up question to continue the discussion. This feature makes it very easy to dig deeper and deeper into a subject. Those rabbit holes have often led me to some really fascinating information. Also: This app makes using Ollama local AI on MacOS devices so easy This was made especially obvious when I was doing research for my latest novel. I asked about escape velocity, and it mentioned the speed of light. I then asked a follow-up question about the speed of light that wound up inspiring an important plot point. You could spend hours diving deeper and deeper into a subject with Perplexity. Both AI tools add references to responses. The biggest difference is that Perplexity lists those sources at the top of their responses and, generally speaking, offers considerably more sources than Gemini. Gemini lists sources after the response is complete, and nearly every time, it didn't list as many sources as Perplexity. The other nice thing about Perplexity is that it cites the sources in line. Hover over a citation, and a pop-up appears with the source link and a brief section of the text used. Gemini does this with small drop-downs for citations, but when you click the drop-down, you only get the source link and not the snippet. Also: How to turn Ollama from a terminal tool into a browser-based AI with this free extension The only caveat to using Perplexity over Gemini is that Gemini's integration with other services is extensive, whereas Perplexity's is limited. Even with that knock against Perplexity, I will continue to use it over Gemini... even on Android.
[2]
Perplexity is the AI tool Gemini wishes it could be
I'm an Android user and have been since version 1.5 of the OS. Over the past year or so, Google has switched its default assistant to its powerful AI solution, Gemini. For a while, I used Gemini on Android to get answers to my questions. I even made use of Gemini Live (which is quite impressive). But recently, I've been defaulting to a different AI service, Perplexity. I've installed the Perplexity app on Android, Linux, and MacOS, and set it as the default search engine in my web browser. Although I prefer using local AI (such as the Ollama/Msty combination), there are times when I need more or something faster than a local AI can deliver. On top of that, my locally installed AI doesn't have access to real-time data, so it can't tell me what's in the news today. But why Perplexity over Gemini? Also: How I made Perplexity AI the default search engine in my browser (and why you should too) For starters, you can't switch from Gemini to Perplexity as the Android default digital assistant, and I doubt that will ever be possible. You can, however, use Perplexity on your phone, desktop, and laptop as the default AI tool. Let me explain why you might want to do that. For me, this is the biggest reason to switch to Perplexity. I've been using AI as a search engine for some time now. Why? The main reason is I find Google far less effective than it once was. When I'm doing research, I need answers fast and would rather not have to wade through sponsored sites or sites that contain so many ads that they render my browser unusable. One thing about Gemini is that you can certainly head to the Gemini website and use it, but you can't set it as the default search engine in your web browser. On the other hand, you can do this with Perplexity, and that, for me, is a deal-maker. After comparing both Gemini and Perplexity for a few weeks, I've found Perplexity not only gives better answers (with more description and context) but the answers are also more accurate. I've found Gemini to produce subtle inaccuracies fairly regularly, but I have yet to find fault in a Perplexity response. That's not to say they aren't there, but they've not been nearly as obvious as what I generally found with Gemini. I'm not saying that Gemini is always or often wrong, but in the comparison, Gemini delivered less accurate responses overall. On top of all this, the response detail in Perplexity is much higher than Gemini. One issue I've had with Gemini is that when you ask it to help you solve something, it tends to respond with simple bullet points. Yes, such lists make the responses easy to read, but they lack the depth of knowledge I require. That's just me. Most people prefer quick bullet points so they can quickly scan them and be on their way. I want context. I want to know why a step is taken instead of just the step. One of my favorite features of Perplexity is the "Ask follow-up" option. I can ask it a question, and once it gives me an answer, I can type a follow-up question to continue the discussion. This feature makes it very easy to dig deeper and deeper into a subject. Those rabbit holes have often led me to some really fascinating information. Also: This app makes using Ollama local AI on MacOS devices so easy This was made especially obvious when I was doing research for my latest novel. I asked about escape velocity, and it mentioned the speed of light. I then asked a follow-up question about the speed of light that wound up inspiring an important plot point. You could spend hours diving deeper and deeper into a subject with Perplexity. Both AI tools add references to responses. The biggest difference is that Perplexity lists those sources at the top of their responses and, generally speaking, offers considerably more sources than Gemini. Gemini lists sources after the response is complete, and nearly every time, it didn't list as many sources as Perplexity. The other nice thing about Perplexity is that it cites the sources in line. Hover over a citation, and a pop-up appears with the source link and a brief section of the text used. Gemini does this with small drop-downs for citations, but when you click the drop-down, you only get the source link and not the snippet. Also: How to turn Ollama from a terminal tool into a browser-based AI with this free extension The only caveat to using Perplexity over Gemini is that Gemini's integration with other services is extensive, whereas Perplexity's is limited. Even with that knock against Perplexity, I will continue to use it over Gemini... even on Android.
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A comparison between Perplexity AI and Google's Gemini reveals Perplexity's superior performance in accuracy, detail, and user experience, positioning it as a preferred AI tool for search and research.
In a recent comparison between Google's Gemini and Perplexity AI, the latter has emerged as a strong contender in the AI-powered search and assistant market. Despite Google's dominance in the search engine space and its integration of Gemini as the default assistant on Android devices, Perplexity is gaining traction among users seeking more accurate and detailed information 12.
Perplexity AI has demonstrated several advantages over Gemini:
Accuracy and Detail: After weeks of comparison, Perplexity was found to provide more accurate answers with greater detail and context. While Gemini occasionally produced subtle inaccuracies, Perplexity's responses were consistently reliable 1.
Search Engine Integration: Unlike Gemini, Perplexity can be set as the default search engine in web browsers, making it more convenient for users to access AI-powered search capabilities 1.
In-depth Responses: Perplexity offers more comprehensive answers compared to Gemini's tendency to provide simple bullet points. This depth of information is particularly valuable for users requiring detailed explanations and context 12.
Follow-up Questions: The "Ask follow-up" feature in Perplexity allows users to delve deeper into topics, facilitating more thorough research and exploration of subjects 1.
Perplexity outperforms Gemini in its approach to citing sources:
Prominent Source Listing: Perplexity displays sources at the top of responses and generally provides more references than Gemini 12.
Inline Citations: Users can hover over citations in Perplexity to view source links and relevant text snippets, offering a more seamless research experience 1.
While Perplexity shows promise, there are some limitations to consider:
Integration with Other Services: Gemini maintains an advantage in its extensive integration with other Google services, whereas Perplexity's integration capabilities are more limited 12.
Default Assistant Limitations: Perplexity cannot replace Gemini as the default digital assistant on Android devices, potentially limiting its accessibility for some users 1.
The emergence of Perplexity as a strong alternative to Gemini and traditional search engines like Google signals a shift in the AI-powered search landscape. Users are increasingly seeking tools that provide more accurate, detailed, and easily verifiable information, challenging the dominance of established players in the field 12.
As AI continues to evolve, the competition between these tools is likely to drive further innovations in search technology, potentially reshaping how users access and interact with information online.
Reference
A tech writer's journey from being an AI skeptic to embracing specific AI tools for research and productivity, highlighting the strengths of various AI applications in daily use.
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Perplexity launches a new AI assistant for Android, offering advanced features and app integrations that rival Google's Gemini, potentially reshaping the mobile AI landscape.
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Perplexity AI is investigating reports of Android devices automatically reverting from Perplexity Assistant to Google Assistant or Gemini, raising questions about potential bugs or platform interference.
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A detailed comparison of OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Gemini Deep Research tools, examining their capabilities, strengths, and limitations across various research tasks.
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Google's Gemini AI is making waves in the smartphone world, offering advanced features that outperform Apple's Siri and challenging the AI assistant landscape.
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