What to know

  • Perplexity has launched Labs, a new feature that enables users to create various types of content including reports, spreadsheets, and web applications.
  • The new tools expand Perplexity's capabilities beyond its core AI search functionality, positioning it as a more comprehensive productivity platform.
  • Labs is currently available to Pro subscribers, with plans to roll out additional features in the coming months.

Perplexity has expanded its AI capabilities with the introduction of Labs, a new suite of tools that lets you create reports, spreadsheets, web applications and more. This marks a significant evolution for the company, which has primarily been known for its AI-powered search capabilities.

The new Labs feature is designed to help you generate various types of content with AI assistance. You can now create detailed reports with data visualizations, build interactive spreadsheets, and even develop simple web applications without needing coding experience.

According to Perplexity's announcement, Labs aims to streamline your workflow by combining the research capabilities of their search engine with new content creation tools. You can gather information through Perplexity's search and then immediately use that data to create professional documents and applications.

"We're expanding beyond search to help users not just find information but also do something meaningful with it," said a Perplexity spokesperson. "Labs represents our vision of AI as a comprehensive productivity partner."

The report creation tool allows you to generate structured documents with sections, citations, and embedded visualizations. The spreadsheet functionality includes support for data analysis, formulas, and chart generation. The web app builder lets you create simple interactive applications that can be shared with others.

Labs is currently available to Perplexity Pro subscribers. The company has indicated that additional features will be added to Labs in the coming months, including more advanced data analysis tools and expanded collaboration options.

This move positions Perplexity to compete more directly with other AI productivity tools in the market. By expanding beyond search into content creation, the company is building a more comprehensive platform for knowledge workers.

Early user feedback suggests the tools are particularly useful for quickly generating reports from research findings and creating interactive data visualizations without specialized skills. However, some users have noted that the more complex features still require some refinement.

Perplexity has not disclosed specific user numbers, but mentioned that adoption of the Pro subscription has grown significantly in recent months, likely driven by these new capabilities.