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Perplexity AI Tool

The Perplexity AI tool provides your agents with powerful web search and research capabilities. It leverages Perplexity’s advanced AI models to search the web, analyze information, and provide comprehensive, citation-backed responses.
This tool has Pro status, meaning it requires a professional subscription and provides advanced features for premium users.

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Overview

The Perplexity AI tool transforms your agents into research assistants capable of:

Real-Time Web Search

Search the latest information from across the web

AI-Powered Analysis

Intelligent analysis and synthesis of search results

Source Citations

Automatic citation and source tracking for all information

Domain Filtering

Focus searches on specific domains or exclude unwanted sources

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Configuration Parameters

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model
select
required
The Perplexity AI model to use for search and analysis
Options:
  • sonar - Fast, general-purpose search model
  • sonar-pro - Enhanced search with better reasoning
  • sonar-reasoning - Advanced reasoning capabilities
  • sonar-reasoning-pro - Most advanced model with superior analysis
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system_message
textarea
required
System instructions that define the search behavior and response style
Default: "Search the web"
Example: "Search for the latest information and provide a comprehensive analysis with sources"
Tips: Be specific about the type of information needed and response format
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search_domain_filter
input
Optional domain filter to restrict or focus searches
Example: "news.com, reuters.com" (include only these domains)
Example: "-news.com, -reuters.com" (exclude these domains)

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Setup Instructions

1

Verify Pro Subscription

Ensure your account has Pro access for Perplexity AI tools
2

Navigate to Tools

Go to the Tools section in your project dashboard
3

Create Perplexity AI Tool

Click Create Tool and select Perplexity AI
4

Select Model

Choose the appropriate Perplexity model for your use case
5

Configure System Message

Define how the tool should approach searches and format responses
6

Set Domain Filter (Optional)

Configure domain restrictions if needed for your use case
7

Add to Agent

Assign this tool to your agents in agent settings

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Model Options

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Sonar Models

Best for: Quick searches, basic information gatheringCharacteristics:
  • Fast response times
  • Good for straightforward queries
  • Efficient for high-volume searches
  • Cost-effective option
Use Cases:
  • News updates
  • Basic fact checking
  • Simple research queries
  • Real-time information needs

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Configuration Examples

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General Research Assistant

{
  "model": "sonar-pro",
  "system_message": "Search for comprehensive, up-to-date information on the given topic. Provide a detailed analysis with multiple perspectives and cite all sources. Focus on authoritative and recent sources.",
  "search_domain_filter": ""
}

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News & Current Events

{
  "model": "sonar",
  "system_message": "Search for the latest news and developments. Prioritize recent articles from reputable news sources. Provide a summary of key points with publication dates and source links.",
  "search_domain_filter": "reuters.com,ap.org,bbc.com,cnn.com"
}

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Technical & Scientific Research

{
  "model": "sonar-reasoning-pro",
  "system_message": "Search for technical and scientific information with emphasis on peer-reviewed sources, official documentation, and expert analysis. Provide detailed explanations with proper citations.",
  "search_domain_filter": "arxiv.org,nature.com,science.org,ieee.org"
}

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Market & Business Intelligence

{
  "model": "sonar-reasoning",
  "system_message": "Search for business and market information including trends, company news, financial data, and industry analysis. Focus on authoritative business sources and recent developments.",
  "search_domain_filter": "bloomberg.com,reuters.com,wsj.com,ft.com"
}

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Best Practices

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Search Query Optimization

Specific Queries: More specific search requests yield better results. Instead of “market trends,” try “SaaS market trends Q4 2024.”
  • Use Keywords: Include specific terms and phrases
  • Ask Questions: Natural language questions work well
  • Specify Timeframes: Include dates when relevance matters
  • Define Scope: Clarify geographic or industry scope
  • Request Analysis: Ask for comparisons or analysis explicitly

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System Message Best Practices

Effective System Messages:
  ✅ "Search for recent developments in AI regulation, focusing on EU and US policies from 2024. Provide analysis of key differences and implications."
  ✅ "Find the latest earnings reports and analyst opinions for tech companies in the S&P 500. Summarize key trends and outlook."
  
Less Effective:
  ❌ "Search the web"
  ❌ "Find information"

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Domain Filtering Strategy

  • Quality Over Quantity: Filter for authoritative sources
  • Avoid Echo Chambers: Include diverse perspectives
  • Time Sensitivity: Use recent sources for current events
  • Source Type: Match source type to information need
  • Exclude Noise: Remove forums and user-generated content when needed

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Cost Management

  • Model Selection: Use appropriate model for task complexity
  • Query Optimization: Craft efficient search queries
  • Result Caching: Cache frequently requested information
  • Domain Filtering: Reduce search scope when possible

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Troubleshooting

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Common Issues

Symptoms: Irrelevant or low-quality search resultsSolutions:
  • Refine system message with more specific instructions
  • Add domain filtering to focus on quality sources
  • Use more specific search queries
  • Try a different model (upgrade to Pro or Reasoning)
Symptoms: Search results contain old or stale informationSolutions:
  • Include time constraints in system message
  • Filter domains known for current content
  • Use keywords like “latest,” “recent,” “2024”
  • Avoid cached or archived sources
Symptoms: Search requests being throttled or delayedSolutions:
  • Implement request queuing
  • Use caching for repeated queries
  • Distribute requests across time
  • Monitor usage against limits
Symptoms: Missing or broken source citationsSolutions:
  • Verify domain filtering isn’t too restrictive
  • Check if sources are accessible
  • Review system message citation requirements
  • Test with different model variants

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Security & Compliance

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Data Privacy

  • Search Queries: All queries are encrypted in transit
  • Result Storage: Search results can be cached securely
  • Source Access: No direct access to proprietary content
  • User Privacy: Individual search patterns are not tracked

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Content Filtering

  • Inappropriate Content: Built-in content filtering
  • Copyright Respect: Only uses publicly available information
  • Fact Checking: AI-powered accuracy verification
  • Source Verification: Authoritative source prioritization

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Next Steps

Configure Your First Search Tool

Set up Perplexity AI for your agent

Advanced Search Strategies

Learn advanced search optimization

Other Tools

Explore other available tools

API Reference

View the tools API documentation