Why I'm Divorcing ChatGPT...and You Should too

Listen, no one loves ChatGPT and AI more than I do, but there comes a point where the evolution of AI becomes so vast and rapid that new players take over. That's exactly what's happening now. This isn't a sponsored ad—this is something I use myself, which has completely shifted me away from using ChatGPT. Enter Perplexity.ai, a tool that's immensely more powerful, including API integrations for the tech-savvy among us.

What Makes Perplexity.ai Stand Out?

Perplexity.ai is an advanced AI engine that allows us to create "collections." Think of collections as categories, and within these categories, you can create subcategories with different questions. Here’s how I’ve been using it:

Real-Time Information Retrieval

Yesterday, I was trying to figure out ticket pricing for a waterpark in Houston, Texas. I needed to know if we were supposed to bring our own towels or if they provided them. ChatGPT might not have this information and could potentially hallucinate, but Perplexity.ai searches the internet for specific questions. It combs through sites, forums, and even Reddit posts to provide accurate information. For instance, I found out that the waterpark indeed does not provide towels, and I also learned what items not to bring, such as outside food or water bottles. This prompted me to adjust what we packed.

Planning and Decision-Making

I wanted to take my girls to the beach next week, so I asked Perplexity.ai if Surfside Beach was open. It quickly informed me that, according to the latest announcements, the beach is only open to residents, meaning we couldn't go. Perplexity.ai provides real-time analysis by searching the internet and also suggests follow-up questions related to my initial query. This feature has become invaluable for my business research.

Applications in Healthcare

As a physician, staying updated on clinical information is crucial. Perplexity.ai helps me keep up-to-date on medical billing, terminology, and the latest clinical updates. It searches through databases to provide the most current answers on CPT codes and updates from the American Medical Association.

Email Triage and Collaboration

I often receive emails from other physicians wanting to collaborate. Sometimes, I don't know if it's worth my time. By copying and pasting the email into Perplexity.ai, it researches who the person is and whether the collaboration would be beneficial. It even outlines potential schedules and deployment plans, highlighting the pros and cons, so I can make informed decisions.

Integrating with Other Tools

Just like ChatGPT, Perplexity.ai allows you to upload documents. One of my favorite tools is Otter.ai, which I use to transcribe my thoughts and meetings. I upload these transcriptions into Perplexity.ai to ground my queries in the knowledge base of my transcriptions. This is particularly useful in my consulting practice for medical technology companies, where I incorporate AI into administrative workflows.

Why Perplexity.ai is a Game-Changer

There are other programs like Microsoft Copilot within the Microsoft 365 system, which is also excellent. However, Perplexity.ai is easily accessible, free at the base level, and inexpensive for pro searches. It saves me an extraordinary amount of time. For instance, I recently held a conference, transcribed it with Otter.ai, and created a Perplexity bot grounded in the conference's knowledge base. This allowed me to research more about the presenters' topics and align my current situation with the lessons from the conference, making wisdom actionable.

Takeaway

While ChatGPT has its merits, its inability to perform live searches limits its functionality. Perplexity.ai, with its real-time internet searches and robust organizational features, is a powerful tool for anyone who values efficiency and staying ahead of the curve. Whether you're a healthcare professional, a business owner, or someone who likes to stay informed, Perplexity.ai is worth exploring. So, give Perplexity.ai a try. It might just be the AI assistant you never knew you needed. And who knows? It might even give you something impressive to talk about at your next conference or cocktail party.

Cheng Ruan, MD

Executive Director of Physician Transformation Institiute a 501(3)(c) not-for-profit organization.