AI search platform Perplexity has added two new tools for users who need to juggle internal and external information at once. The company now lets its Pro and Enterprise Pro customers search internal documents alongside public web content, while offering a fresh take on team collaboration through customizable Spaces.
Internal Knowledge Search Enhances Workflow
Ever wanted to search your own documents and the web without switching platforms? Now, that’s possible. With Perplexity’s Internal Knowledge Search, users can upload files, and the AI will search through both those files and external web pages at the same time. No more flipping back and forth between your document folder and a browser search—it all happens in one place. And with support for most common file formats like PDFs and Excel sheets, it’s a feature designed to fit into various workflows.
It’s particularly handy for industries that rely on thorough research. Take financial firms—analysts can now look through internal reports and external market data together to get a fuller picture faster. Other sectors, like HR and business development, also stand to benefit by accessing internal guidelines or past materials without missing out on the latest updates online.
Collaboration with AI-Powered Spaces
Perplexity also introduces “Spaces”, a tool that gives teams a place to organize their files and share them with others. Instead of cluttered email chains or scattered cloud folders, Spaces offers a hub for your team’s documents. It’s more than a shared folder, though—you can tweak the AI to respond in specific ways to different types of content, tailoring its behavior to your team’s needs.
Teams can keep their files private or share them selectively, with full control over access. If your company works with sensitive data, there’s an extra layer of security: Enterprise Pro accounts have their files excluded from any AI training by default, which reduces the risk of sensitive information being used to train AI models.
Security and Flexibility for Enterprises
Perplexity took extra care to address privacy concerns. Enterprise Pro users’ files are automatically kept out of Perplexity’s AI training program, ensuring sensitive documents stay secure. Pro users, on the other hand, can manually opt out of this if needed.
Another perk for Enterprise Pro subscribers is the integration with services like Crunchbase and FactSet. Users with subscriptions to those platforms can soon search across their datasets, combining proprietary data with external research in one seamless flow. It’s a big time-saver for teams handling complex information and working with external research platforms.
The Rise of Hybrid Search Systems
Perplexity isn’t the only player in the hybrid search space, but they’ve taken a different approach. Tools like Elasticsearch or Glean have already explored the concept of combining internal and external data in search functions. However, Perplexity’s goal is to simplify the experience by putting both internal files and web content into a single search interface.
Some companies were given early access to the new features, including Nvidia, Dell, and Databricks. Early reports suggest that the Internal Knowledge Search tool has already sped up research for businesses, particularly when dealing with sales or development work.
Spaces also lets teams manage their internal workflows more efficiently. Rather than wasting time on multiple platforms, employees can keep everything centralized, from old sales presentations to current web trends.
Perplexity’s Evolution in the AI Search Market
Earlier this year, Perplexity launched its Enterprise Pro service, which came with file uploads, single sign-on, and SOC2 certification. This latest update builds on that foundation, bringing more functionality to the platform. For businesses juggling vast amounts of data, combining internal files with AI-driven external research is a logical next step.
And as AI becomes more central to how businesses operate, services like Perplexity’s Internal Knowledge Search and Spaces could become essential for teams that want to stay competitive without sacrificing security.
Legal Challenges about Content Use
Perplexity’s rise in the AI search industry comes at a time of growing tension between AI companies and content creators. Recently, Perplexity AI faces legal action from the New York Times, which accused the company of unauthorized use of its content. This dispute brings into sharp focus the ongoing ethical debate about AI’s role in journalism.
Many publishers are concerned about their work being used without permission or compensation, and the New York Times is not alone in challenging these practices. Similar legal actions have been initiated by media outlets against other AI companies, like OpenAI and Microsoft, over the unauthorized use of copyrighted content in AI model training.
As AI tools like Perplexity become more sophisticated, the need for clear boundaries on content use is becoming critical. Many publishers are seeking compensation for the use of their material in AI-driven platforms, and some, like TIME, have already reached content licensing agreements with AI companies. However, with Perplexity facing growing scrutiny, this evolving legal landscape will likely shape the future of AI development and its relationship with content creators.
Last Updated on November 7, 2024 2:28 pm CET