AIAAIC - Perplexity AI answer engine

Perplexity

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Perplexity is a self-described an AI-powered "answer engine" that aims to deliver precise, contextually relevant, reliable and helpful information in response to user questions.

Launched in 2022, the free version draws on OpenAI's GPT-3.5 and Microsoft's Bing search engine to find relevant information to a question, and uses advanced natural language processing (NLP) techniques to understand and generate an answer.

The paid version, Perplexity Pro, asks the user clarifying questions to refine queries and provides access to GPT-4, Claude 3.5, Mistral Large and Llama 3.

In May 2024, Perplexity launched Pages, which generates a customisable webpage based on user prompts. Pages uses Perplexity’s AI search models to gather information and create a Wikipedia-type page that can be published and shared with others.

Generative artificial intelligence

Generative artificial intelligence (generative AI, GenAI, or GAI) is artificial intelligence capable of generating text, images, videos, or other data using generative models, often in response to prompts.

Source: Wikipedia 🔗

System 🤖

Website: Perplexity 🔗
Released: 2022
Developer: Perplexity AI
Purpose: Generate information
Type: Generative AI
Technique: Machine learning

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Transparency and accountability 🙈

In some ways, Perplexity AI appears transparent - after delivering an answer, the system presents the sources of information it has used, allowing users to verify and explore further, setting it apart from traditional search engines that simply provide links.

On the other hand, the system is opaque in a number of important ways:

Data and information sources. Perplexity AI does not reveal all the sources of the information it provides, making it difficult for users to verify the credibility and reliability of responses.
Training data. The details of the training data and potential biases within Perplexity's AI answer engine are not transparent, raising concerns about the objectivity and fairness of the system's responses.
Algorithmic processes. Perplexity AI provides limited information on how its algorithms work, notably how they select, filter, and prioritise information.
Content moderation. The mechanisms and criteria used for content moderation and the prevention of misinformation and disinformation are not clearly outlined.
User feedback. The processes by which user feedback is collected, assessed, and integrated into improving the AI's performance are not clearly explained.

Risks and harms 🛑

Perplexity's AI answer engine has been accused of producing inaccurate, misleading, outdated and biased content, and of repeating and spreading misinformation and disinformation, thereby potentially misleading users, swaying public opinion and undermining political discourse.

It has also been accusd of plagiarising third-party content and voilating the copyright of content owners, thereby threatening their business model, finances, operations and reputation.

Incidents and issues 🔥

April 2025. Pravda network floods language models with pro-Kremlin disinformation
October 2024. AI search engines promote white supremacism
October 2024. The New York Times orders Perplexity to stop misusing its content
July 2024. Conde Nast demands Perplexity AI stop using its content
June 2024. Perplexity AI ignores requests not to scrape websites
June 2024. Perplexity AI is accused of ripping off news websites
June 2024. Study: Top chatbots spread Russian misinformation

System 🤖

Documents 📃

Reviews 🗣️

Transparency and accountability 🙈

Risks and harms 🛑

Incidents and issues 🔥

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