08-15-2024TECH
The Information superhighway just got a bunch of smart new on-ramps. Meet Perplexity, You.com, and Andi.
[Images: StockVector/Adobe Stock; KR Studio/Adobe Stock]
It’s been ages since Googling wasn’t the go-to method for finding information. But a new generation of contenders is hoping to put the ubiquitous search giant in our collective rear-view mirrors.
These AI-powered platforms leverage advanced language models and machine learning to understand context, generate humanlike responses, and get you what you’re looking for more quickly than ever before. Just be a little cautious about the accuracy of factual statements, since AI remains prone to hallucinations.
Perplexity
Perplexity makes searching feel more like a conversation. Instead of simply returning a series of links and leaving you to synthesize disparate information on your own, it generates actual answers.
It’s a great tool for doing specific research because its ability to understand context and provide follow-up information makes using it similar to natural dialogue.
The free version works fine for basic searching, while the $20 per month Pro version offers more detailed results, additional AI models, file analysis, and monthly API credits.
You.com
You.com focuses on a customizable search experience where you can prioritize results from specific sources like news sites or academic journals.
Tell You.com a little about yourself when you first sign up and it’ll not only be able to tailor search results to your personality but learn more about your interests as you continue to use it.
While both the free and $20 per month Pro versions provide access to the internet and real-time responses with citations, Pro offers additional advanced capabilities and customization options, including the ability to choose from a laundry list of popular AI models.
Andi
Andi is arguably the friendliest entry on the list here. It’s great for breaking complex topics down into quick, easy to understand answers.
It does this by leveraging Read, Summarize, and Explain features: Read is an ad-free, clean article viewer; Summarize is a quick breakdown of key points; Explain chunks complicated topics into simpler explanations.
Andi is free to use with no paid version. The company makes commissions from affiliate links on product searches, though you can opt out if you like.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Doug Aamoth is a 20-year veteran of the tech industry and has written extensively about trends in Big Tech; innovative, new products; and personal-productivity tips.You can connect with him on Twitter/X and LinkedIn. More
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