Perplexity AI Complete Guide 2026 - The AI Search Revolution Evolved with Deep Research & Model Council

📸 What is Perplexity AI? How to use it + how it works

What is Perplexity AI? — More Than Search, Your AI Research Partner

While Google shows you links, Perplexity AI delivers the answer. As of 2026, Perplexity has rapidly evolved beyond a simple AI search engine into a powerful research assistant capable of deep analysis on complex topics. Processing hundreds of millions of queries each month, it’s now widely used by students, researchers, professionals, and investors alike.

The recent Deep Research upgrade and the introduction of Model Council in February 2026 have set Perplexity far apart from competing AI tools. This article breaks down the latest features and offers practical guidance on how to use them effectively in work and everyday life.

📸 Perplexity AI Review: Imagine ChatGPT with an Internet ...

Perplexity AI 2026 Key Updates Summary

📸 Introducing Perplexity Deep Research

1. Deep Research 2.0 — Achieves Top Benchmark Rankings

The original Deep Research feature already searched the web dozens of times and compiled comprehensive reports. The February 2026 upgrade integrates the Claude Opus 4.5 model, achieving State-of-the-Art (SOTA) performance on major external benchmarks like Google DeepMind Deep Search QA and Scale AI Research Rubric.

Combines Perplexity’s proprietary search engine with sandboxed infrastructure for maximum accuracy and reliability
Initially rolled out to Max plan users, gradually expanding to Pro users
Ideal for complex tasks: academic research, legal analysis, and deep technical investigations

For instance, when asked a specialized academic question like 'the influence of Japanese woodblock prints on French Impressionism,' it analyzes dozens of sources and delivers a structured, well-referenced report.

📸 How to Access 'Model Council' Perplexity Without the $200 Max Plan

2. Model Council — Three AIs Respond Simultaneously

The most innovative new feature, Model Council, runs three top-tier AI models at once on a single query, then compares and synthesizes their responses. Currently available only on the web version for Max plan users.

Investment research: Compare multiple AI perspectives on a particular stock
Major decision-making: Useful for career choices or large purchases, where model bias can impact outcomes
Creative brainstorming: Leverage diverse model strengths for richer idea generation
Factual validation: Cross-verify critical information across models

A dedicated meta-model reviews and synthesizes the three outputs, resulting in significantly more reliable and balanced answers than any single AI can provide.

3. Enhanced Memory — An AI That Remembers You

Perplexity has strengthened its personalized memory to learn user preferences, frequent topics, and working styles. This means it automatically applies context from past conversations, eliminating the need to re-explain background with every query.

4. Finance Heatmap — Real-Time Visualization for Investors

A new heatmap visualization shows price movements across major stocks, sectors, and asset classes when financial topics are queried. Ideal for investors who want to grasp complex market data intuitively.

5. Step-by-Step Learning — A New Way to Master Concepts

The Learn Step-by-Step mode breaks down complex concepts into easy-to-follow stages. Highly effective for mastering math formulas, programming algorithms, and scientific principles through structured learning.

Perplexity AI Free vs Pro vs Max Comparison

Free Plan

Basic AI search (quick answers)
Limited Deep Research queries
No file uploads

Pro Plan ($20/month)

High-volume Deep Research (powered by Claude Opus 4.5)
File uploads and image analysis
Enhanced memory features
Access to all available AI models

Max Plan ($50/month)

Model Council (three AIs run simultaneously)
Highest-priority Deep Research access
Included: Finance Heatmap
Enterprise-grade security controls

Practical Use Cases — Boosting Productivity with Perplexity AI

Scenario 1: Marketing Competitive Analysis

Use Deep Research to investigate 'key players in the 2026 Korean SaaS market and their differentiation strategies.' Within minutes, get a structured, up-to-date competitive analysis report pulling from dozens of sources.

Scenario 2: Investor Stock Research

Leverage Model Council to compare multiple AI analyses on a stock of interest. This helps avoid bias from any single model and supports more balanced, informed decisions.

Scenario 3: Developer Technology Evaluation

Quickly assess a new framework or library—its pros and cons, real-world production use cases, and community sentiment—with Deep Research. Make stronger, data-backed technology decisions.

Scenario 4: Student Academic Research

With Deep Research scanning both academic databases and web sources, Perplexity accelerates every stage of the research process—from topic selection to bibliography compilation.

Perplexity AI vs ChatGPT vs Google Gemini — What Sets It Apart?

Feature	Perplexity AI	ChatGPT	Google Gemini
Real-time web search	✅ Built-in by default	✅ Plus plan and above	✅ Built-in by default
Source citations	✅ Always provided	△ Partially available	✅ Provided
Deep Research	✅ Specialized feature	✅ Deep Research	✅ Deep Research
Multi-model comparison	✅ Model Council	❌	❌
Free plan	✅ Robust core features	✅ GPT-4o mini	✅ Gemini 2.0

Perplexity’s key differentiators are source transparency and research-specific functionality. While ChatGPT excels in creative writing and coding, Perplexity shines when you need fact verification and in-depth investigation.

How to Get Started — Try Perplexity AI Today

Visit perplexity.ai (or download the iOS/Android app)
Sign in easily with your Google account
Try basic search for free, then upgrade to Pro if you need Deep Research
Use the '+' button on the left of the search bar to upload files, set sources, or select modes
Organize research with Spaces, keeping contexts separated by project

Tip: The free plan alone is powerful enough for most users. Try it for a month—if you find yourself repeatedly needing Deep Research, upgrade to Pro then. No rush.

Conclusion — The Standard of AI Search Has Changed in 2026

In 2026, Perplexity AI has firmly evolved from a search tool into a multi-model research platform. With Deep Research 2.0’s top-tier benchmark performance, Model Council’s multi-perspective insights, and its intuitive interface, it’s a tool every knowledge worker should seriously consider.

It won’t fully replace Google Search—but when you need in-depth research and highly reliable analysis, Perplexity AI fills that gap perfectly.

IX Tech Insights

이 블로그 검색