AI for Breakfast

Post 50 - Using Perplexity.ai, I may need to jump ship, sorry ChatGPT!

Todays post is with a little help from Perplexity, in their words ‘Where knowledge begins’ and I have to say with my experimenting so far it’s very good, like, really very good.

It’s like a supercharged search engine that then writes you an article based on your prompt, offers you related links, citations with links and then asks if you need to follow up.

The fact in can access the live internet is super useful and it has a Focus feature with the following options:

All: Search across the entire internet

Academic: Search in published academic papers

Writing: Generate text or chat without searching the web

WolframAlpha: Computational knowledge engine

YouTube: Discover and watch videos

Reddit: Search for discussions and opinions

You can upload images for analysis, there’s a Discover feature showing articles, not sure how it decides what they are yet but I'll find out shortly.

There’s also a Library feature with Threads. I asked it to gather info for a road trip to Italy and it created a great itinerary from Calais to La Spezia over 12 days. Then gave some useful tips and map images after I asked it to avoid toll roads! All collated in a collection, very useful indeed.

Looks like they just added image generation on a Pro account too, will try that when I upgrade. I’m on the free account, the Pro account is $20 a month or save $40 and get a yearly account and you get a whole lot more:

Unlimited Pro Search

Pro Search is our most powerful search, ideal for longer answers to complex questions. (300+/day)

Unlimited File Uploads

Ask about images, documents, and more, powered by models like Claude and GPT-4V.

AI Model Selection

Choose from the latest AI models like GPT-4, Claude 2.1, and Perplexity for improved answers.

API Credits

Enjoy $5 monthly credit for our text generation API. Perplexity's online LLM offers up-to-date information at low latency.

In fact as I’m writing this I’m prompting away, just got a list of Motorcycle movies to watch, it added links to local cinemas, YouTube and some related links to explore, love it!

The UI is much cleaner and more useful that ChatGPT's and you can search your threads. If I upgrade on the yearly I get a 7 day free trial, I think I might just go for it, I'm pretty sure I'll be using it every day…

You can check it out here…

PS. At the risk of repeating myself yet again, the image is via ChatGPT, the prompt was the first paragraph below and the type is all over the place. It’ll be interesting to see how Perplexity deals with type in images when I upgrade.

Getting started with AI for Small Business Owners

As a small business owner, integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into your operations can seem daunting. However, with the right approach, AI can significantly enhance your productivity, streamline processes and improve customer experiences. Here's a practical guide to help you embark on your AI journey.

Understand Your Needs

Before diving into AI, it's crucial to identify the areas within your business that could benefit the most from automation or enhanced intelligence. Common areas include customer service (through AI chatbots), marketing (via personalised content creation), data analysis, and repetitive administrative tasks. [1] [3]. Understanding your needs will help you prioritise which AI tools to implement first.

Start Small

Begin with AI solutions that address specific, manageable tasks. This could be automating customer inquiries with a chatbot or using AI-powered tools for content creation and SEO optimisation [3]. Starting small allows you to gauge the effectiveness of AI in your operations without overwhelming your team or budget.

Choose the Right Tools

There's a plethora of AI tools available, each designed for different business needs. For content creation, tools like Copy.ai can help generate marketing copy [3]. For customer relationship management (CRM), AI can enhance customer interactions and provide insights into customer behavior [1]. Tools like Upmetrics can assist in business planning with AI-generated insights [3]. Select tools that align with your identified needs and have a proven track record in your industry.

Educate Your Team

Implementing AI requires a certain level of understanding and adaptation from your team. Consider investing in training or utilising resources like Microsoft’s AI Business School to build AI literacy within your organisation [1]. This ensures your team can effectively use AI tools and integrate them into their workflows.

Evaluate and Scale

After implementing your initial AI tools, closely monitor their impact on productivity and efficiency. Assess whether they meet your expectations and consider any adjustments or additional training needed. As you become more comfortable with these tools, you can explore more advanced AI solutions to further enhance your business operations.

Stay Informed and Compliant

AI technology evolves rapidly, so it's important to stay informed about the latest developments and best practices. Additionally, ensure that your use of AI complies with data protection and privacy regulations, safeguarding both your business and your customers [2].

Conclusion

Integrating AI into your small business doesn't have to be overwhelming. By understanding your needs, starting small, choosing the right tools, educating your team, and staying informed, you can harness the power of AI to improve productivity and drive growth. Remember, the journey to AI integration is a marathon, not a sprint. Take it one step at a time, and you'll find that AI can be a valuable ally for your small business.

Sources

[1] AI for Small Business: A Beginner's Guide - Microsoft

[2] Navigating the Era of AI: Implications for Small Businesses - Bipartisan Policy Center

[3] 11 Best AI Tools for Small Businesses You Can't Ignore in 2024 - iSmartRecruit