Perplexity AI has introduced Deep Research, a free tool that rivals paid features in Google Gemini and ChatGPT. This AI research assistant simplifies the process of gathering sources, taking notes, and generating detailed reports. While computationally intensive and typically expensive, Perplexity offers Deep Research with a limited number of free daily queries, while subscribers enjoy unlimited access.
Perplexity highlights Deep Research’s proficiency in expert-level tasks, from finance and marketing to product research, achieving high benchmarks on Humanity’s Last Exam. Currently web-based, the tool will soon be available on Android and iOS apps.
Accessing and Utilizing Deep Research
Users can access Deep Research via a dropdown menu next to the text field. Upon completion, the generated report can be exported as a document or PDF, or converted into a shareable Perplexity Page link. This feature is similar to Gemini’s Google Docs integration.
Benchmarking Performance
Perplexity claims Deep Research outperforms Google’s Gemini with Thinking capabilities, OpenAI’s o3-mini and o1 models, and the DeepSeek-R1 model, only trailing OpenAI Deep Research on the Humanity’s Last Exam benchmark. Gemini Deep Research excels in analyzing scientific papers, government agency notices, and legal updates, effectively extracting and simplifying complex information.
OpenAI’s Deep Research Offering
OpenAI has also announced limited access to Deep Research, providing two free queries per month and ten queries for ChatGPT Plus subscribers at $20 per month. Perplexity’s free tier offers a competitive advantage, providing a valuable research tool accessible to a wider audience.
Conclusion: A New Era of Accessible AI Research
Perplexity Deep Research presents a significant advancement in accessible AI research, offering a powerful tool for free. Its performance and features rival established paid services like Gemini and ChatGPT, potentially disrupting the market and empowering users with efficient research capabilities. While limitations exist for free users, the availability of such a sophisticated tool at no cost marks a notable step towards democratizing access to advanced AI technologies.
