> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.plaisolutions.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Perplexity AI Tool

> Web search and research capabilities powered by Perplexity AI

# 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.

<Note>
  This tool has **Pro** status, meaning it requires a professional subscription and provides advanced features for premium users.
</Note>

## Overview

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

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Real-Time Web Search" icon="globe">
    Search the latest information from across the web
  </Card>

  <Card title="AI-Powered Analysis" icon="brain">
    Intelligent analysis and synthesis of search results
  </Card>

  <Card title="Source Citations" icon="quote">
    Automatic citation and source tracking for all information
  </Card>

  <Card title="Domain Filtering" icon="filter">
    Focus searches on specific domains or exclude unwanted sources
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Configuration Parameters

<ParamField path="model" type="select" required>
  The Perplexity AI model to use for search and analysis
  <br />**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
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="system_message" type="textarea" required>
  System instructions that define the search behavior and response style
  <br />**Default**: `"Search the web"`
  <br />**Example**: `"Search for the latest information and provide a comprehensive analysis with sources"`
  <br />**Tips**: Be specific about the type of information needed and response format
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="search_domain_filter" type="input">
  Optional domain filter to restrict or focus searches
  <br />**Example**: `"news.com, reuters.com"` (include only these domains)
  <br />**Example**: `"-news.com, -reuters.com"` (exclude these domains)
</ParamField>

## Setup Instructions

<Steps>
  <Step title="Verify Pro Subscription">
    Ensure your account has Pro access for Perplexity AI tools
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to Tools">
    Go to the **Tools** section in your project dashboard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create Perplexity AI Tool">
    Click **Create Tool** and select **Perplexity AI**
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Model">
    Choose the appropriate Perplexity model for your use case
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure System Message">
    Define how the tool should approach searches and format responses
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set Domain Filter (Optional)">
    Configure domain restrictions if needed for your use case
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add to Agent">
    Assign this tool to your agents in agent settings
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Model Options

### Sonar Models

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Sonar">
    **Best for**: Quick searches, basic information gathering

    **Characteristics**:

    * 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
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Sonar Pro">
    **Best for**: Enhanced search quality, better analysis

    **Characteristics**:

    * Improved search accuracy
    * Better source selection
    * Enhanced result synthesis
    * More detailed responses

    **Use Cases**:

    * Market research
    * Competitive analysis
    * Detailed fact checking
    * Professional research tasks
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Sonar Reasoning">
    **Best for**: Complex queries requiring logical reasoning

    **Characteristics**:

    * Advanced reasoning capabilities
    * Multi-step analysis
    * Complex query understanding
    * Logical conclusion drawing

    **Use Cases**:

    * Technical research
    * Scientific inquiries
    * Complex problem solving
    * Analytical research
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Sonar Reasoning Pro">
    **Best for**: Most demanding research and analysis tasks

    **Characteristics**:

    * Highest quality analysis
    * Superior reasoning abilities
    * Comprehensive result synthesis
    * Most accurate source evaluation

    **Use Cases**:

    * Academic research
    * Investment analysis
    * Legal research
    * Critical decision support
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Configuration Examples

### General Research Assistant

```json theme={null}
{
  "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": ""
}
```

### News & Current Events

```json theme={null}
{
  "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"
}
```

### Technical & Scientific Research

```json theme={null}
{
  "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"
}
```

### Market & Business Intelligence

```json theme={null}
{
  "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"
}
```

## Best Practices

### Search Query Optimization

<Tip>
  **Specific Queries**: More specific search requests yield better results. Instead of "market trends," try "SaaS market trends Q4 2024."
</Tip>

* **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

### System Message Best Practices

```yaml theme={null}
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"
```

### 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

### 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

## Troubleshooting

### Common Issues

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Poor Search Results">
    **Symptoms**: Irrelevant or low-quality search results

    **Solutions**:

    * 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)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Outdated Information">
    **Symptoms**: Search results contain old or stale information

    **Solutions**:

    * Include time constraints in system message
    * Filter domains known for current content
    * Use keywords like "latest," "recent," "2024"
    * Avoid cached or archived sources
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Rate Limiting">
    **Symptoms**: Search requests being throttled or delayed

    **Solutions**:

    * Implement request queuing
    * Use caching for repeated queries
    * Distribute requests across time
    * Monitor usage against limits
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Citation Issues">
    **Symptoms**: Missing or broken source citations

    **Solutions**:

    * Verify domain filtering isn't too restrictive
    * Check if sources are accessible
    * Review system message citation requirements
    * Test with different model variants
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Security & Compliance

### 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

### 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

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Configure Your First Search Tool" icon="play" href="/guides/first-agent">
    Set up Perplexity AI for your agent
  </Card>

  <Card title="Advanced Search Strategies" icon="graduation-cap" href="/guides/best-practices">
    Learn advanced search optimization
  </Card>

  <Card title="Other Tools" icon="grid" href="/tools/overview">
    Explore other available tools
  </Card>

  <Card title="API Reference" icon="code" href="/api-reference/tools">
    View the tools API documentation
  </Card>
</CardGroup>