Perplexity
An answer engine that shows its sources — the closest thing to a research assistant.
Best for
- current facts with links
- comparing options
- quick scans of what's known
Signature move
Ask it for the strongest counter-argument to its own answer.
How it wants to be spoken to
Ask a real question, then constrain it: how recent, which kind of source.
Ask for primary or official sources only.
Ask where the sources disagree — that's usually the useful part.
Give it the audience so the summary lands at the right depth.
Why it glitches
None of this is you doing it wrong. These are the shapes it reliably falls into — and the fix beside each.
Cites blogs as if they were authorities → demand official or primary sources, then check two yourself.
Drifts on niche topics → narrow the question and name the field.
Flattens disagreement into a neat answer → “where do these sources contradict each other?”
Summaries sound confident → ask what remains uncertain.
A prompt that works there
Question: [question] Rules: only sources from the last [12] months, primary or official sources first. Answer in five sentences. Then list the sources. Then one line on what is still uncertain.
Bring Tay your actual task and she'll shape it for Perplexity.
Practice with Tay