What Is Perplexity AI? How It Differs from ChatGPT

In today's age of information overload on the internet, Perplexity AI is an artificial intelligence tool that has drawn plenty of attention, with over 15 million users active monthly as of 2025. Perplexity is an artificial intelligence platform that helps users search and filter content clearly, citing reliable sources. With a friendly interface and real-time information, it can be an ideal companion for anyone who often searches for information, creates content or does research. Let's MONA Media find out what makes Perplexity special!

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What is Perplexity AI?

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Perplexity AI is an advanced platform artificial intelligence designed to help users get information quickly, accurately and in an easy-to-understand way. More than just a chatbot, Perplexity AI acts as a smart search assistant, giving detailed answers with references from reliable online sources. It was founded in 2022 by former researchers from Google and OpenAI.

Perplexity AI handles natural language processing (NLP) smoothly and searches the web in real time, helping answer complex questions and offering useful suggestions to support effective learning, work and research.

Since its launch, Perplexity AI has quickly drawn the tech community's attention thanks to its ability to pull together information from many sources, reduce misinformation, deliver an outstanding search experience and support many languages (such as English, Spanish, Japanese, etc.)

The platform is available on the web, mobile apps and integrates with apps such as WhatsApp. The Pro plan of Perplexity AI gives access to advanced AI models and unlimited questions, meeting a wide range of user needs. That's why Perplexity AI is gradually becoming the first choice for many users in their search for knowledge and for working more efficiently.

Key features of Perplexity AI

Perplexity is built on advanced language models, which let the tool understand user intent and handle natural language smoothly. As a result, every question gets a fast response from the system, with high accuracy and complete information. Below are the impressive features that win Perplexity points with users.

Fast information search

Perplexity AI stands out for its ability to retrieve information from many reliable sources on the internet and give answers that are easy to understand and clear. Whether users want to learn about fashion, travel or any other field, the tool responds effectively.

Thanks to this flexibility, Perplexity has become a powerful helper in study and work, especially when you need accurate information in a short time. Many people see it as a tool that saves time and noticeably improves productivity.

Perplexity helps with accurate multilingual translation

Perplexity also impresses with its translation ability. Supporting over 100 languages , the tool can help you convert documents, text or conversations into Vietnamese smoothly and naturally. This feature is especially useful for people who often work in multilingual environments or need to access foreign documents.

Create impressive content with Perplexity

If you need to write a professional email, outline an article or develop blog content, Perplexity can become a reliable assistant. After analyzing the information you provide, the tool suggests or creates content that closely matches your goals.

To get the most out of this feature, ask a specific question or give some background on your topic. That way the results you get will be far more accurate and easier to use.

How to download Perplexity on your phone 

Once you have an overview of Perplexity AI and what it can do, you can install the app on your phone and use it anytime, anywhere. Perplexity is available on both iOS and Android, so you can get started in just a few simple steps.

If you use an iPhone, the app is on the App Store and works with devices running iOS 16.0 or later. Here is how to install Perplexity on iOS:

• Step 1: Open App Store > Type Perplexity – Ask Anything into the search bar.
• Step 2: When the app shows up, tap Recog to start downloading and installing.

On Android devices, installing Perplexity is just as easy:

• Step 1: Accessibility CH Play on your phone > Enter the keyword Perplexity AI to find the app.
• Step 2: Select Settings and wait a moment while the app downloads to your device.

How to use Perplexity AI effectively

Perplexity AI works by drawing on several large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4, Claude 3, Mistral Large, along with models custom-tuned by the Perplexity team. This lets it understand your question and produce an answer that is as concise and accurate as possible.

Perplexity currently offers two main search modes:

• Quick search: Good when you need a simple, fast answer.
• Deep search (Pro Search): Built to grasp the details of what you are asking, give a fitting response, and even ask you questions back to clarify when needed.

Whichever search mode you choose, the process is the same: Perplexity receives the query, tries to understand what you really want to ask, then scans reliable sources on the internet and summarizes the content into the easiest answer to follow.

For example, if you ask about "Benefits of daily meditation", Perplexity will work out that you care about the mental and health benefits of meditating. It then searches trustworthy health information sites and pulls them together into a short answer. In Pro Search mode, the answer can go into more detail and suggest meditation methods that fit your personal goals.

Another way to use Perplexity is to chat with it directly, like a chatbot. Everything you asked earlier is saved in one conversation thread (called Threads), which helps Perplexity understand you better and keep its answers consistent from start to finish.

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT

The rise of ChatGPT started a revolution in how people interact with machines, making AI easy to reach and talk to. So when you put Perplexity AI next to ChatGPT, what differences show up in how the two work and what they are used for? Let MONA walk you through the comparison table below:

It is not just tools like Perplexity or ChatGPT: new AI tools launch every day. That creates FOMO, where many people try every tool and end up… using none of them. From his view as Product Director at The MONA, Hữu Hùng says you do not need to use everything, you only need to know how to choose the right one AI tools that fits your work best. Watch these tips in the video below!

Common Perplexity applications at work

In practice, with smart information synthesis, fast responses and reliable data, Perplexity does more than answer questions and is now widely used across many professional fields. Here are the most common ways people use Perplexity to work more effectively.

Fast research and information analysis

Perplexity is like a "right hand" for anyone who needs to look up data all the time. Instead of digging through dozens of browser tabs, you ask a specific question and the system gathers information from reliable sources and presents it neatly, with clear links.

Example: Researching the F&B market in Ho Chi Minh City? Type into Perplexity: "What are the eating trends of young people in Ho Chi Minh City in 2025?" and you get a summary with enough substance, ready for a strategy brainstorm.

Easier strategic planning

From drafting a report outline to coming up with ideas for a business plan, Perplexity saves you from racking your brain while still giving you enough information and depth.

For example: you need to prepare slides on the e-commerce market. Just ask: "What are the biggest barriers to e-commerce in Vietnam today?" Perplexity will list the main factors, and you can quote a passage for your slide or rewrite it in your own style.

Real-time financial analysis

Since 10/2024, Perplexity has launched a finance-focused version that lets you pull stock, revenue and earnings report information extremely fast.

Just type: "FPT's after-tax profit in 2024" or "Compare the growth rate of banking and real estate in Vietnam", and you immediately get tables, charts and analytical commentary. For anyone in management or investing, or anyone who needs to decide based on real data, this is a tool worth using.

Self-learning and building knowledge fast

Need to update your industry knowledge, pick up a new topic quickly, or help your team build expertise together? Perplexity can act as a "tech tutor", fast and easy to follow.

Just ask: "What is the impact of AI on the marketing industry?" or "Summarize how DeFi works", and you get a short, logical explanation with sources to read further if you want.

Writing more effective marketing content

Running out of content ideas is normal. With Perplexity, you enter a simple prompt and get detailed suggestions, from the title and outline to SEO keywords.

For example: "Write an SEO-optimized article introducing HR management software, about 1500 words, for HR Managers." In a few minutes you have a complete article skeleton to start writing, without worrying about missing information.

Perplexity AI is steadily earning its place among modern AI tools thanks to fast, accurate and easy-to-understand answers. There is still debate about its reliability and its limits in handling information, but it is undeniably worth trying. If you are looking for a smart, convenient research assistant, Perplexity AI belongs on your list of tools to test.

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