• Source:JND
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Perplexity AI has officially launched Perplexity Labs, a powerful new feature that enables users to generate reports, spreadsheets, charts, and even basic web applications from simple text prompts. Announced last Thursday, the tool is now live on Perplexity’s website and available to all Perplexity Pro subscribers.

Coming just a month after the debut of Perplexity Assistant for iOS, this release signals the company’s deeper push into agentic AI and task automation.

What Is Perplexity Labs?

Built on Deep Research version of Perplexity’s Engine, Perplexity Labs introduces a new scope of functionality. It performs complex workflows that involve web and deep web browsing (web scraping), coding, data manipulation, and output storage in an organised Assets tab for convenient access.

The features support:

- Document generation and spreadsheets.

- Dynamic web application and dashboard building.

- Data visualisation and charting.

- Image rendering/creation through various algorithms.

- Live web browsing and information pulling through data scraping

- Perplexity claims most tasks can be done with a 10-minute kick-off for simpler prompts, growing in complexity as the prompt detail rises.

- App and Assets Tabs: A New Space

Perplexity Labs divides its interface into two broad components:

- Assets Tab: Contains all created material, including coded items files, documents, charts, and images.

- App Tab: Permits users to create web dashboards, slideshows, and websites directly in the platform.

This two-tab format is designed to enhance user productivity while minimising the need for external tools and toggling, thereby optimising workflow.

Does It Contain Agentic AI?

Though Perplexity has not formally branded Labs as an agentic AI, the design features suggest it might be. The platform performs a chain of tasks, each of which is interconnected, after a user inputs a prompt, completing one task after another with minimal user guidance.

There remains the question of whether users can interrupt or alter the control of guiding the execution flow after it has started. Also, it remains unconfirmed by the company whether the Labs system comprises several agents or uses other large language models (LLMs) for image or code generation.

Sample Use Cases

Perplexity Labs comes with multiple examples that showcase their creativity and professionalism, such as:

- Formulating a trading strategy revolving around a company’s stock or economic occurrence.

- Creating an entire film outline, including storyboard and initial screenplay.

- Developing composite data visualisations from available public datasets.

- Drafting business profiles or pitching a new business idea.

Final Thoughts: A Significant Shift Towards Task-Centric AI

By launching Perplexity Labs, Perplexity AI is now competing against other agentic systems such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT Pro with Advanced Tools and Google’s Gemini 1.5. While uncertainties exist regarding its architectural framework and confines, speculative at best, the ability to perform multi-step, self-governing activities stands as an evident benchmark in the evolution of AI unveiled for public use.

Currently, the Labs are only accessible for Pro users, hinting towards the company’s aim of constructing an advanced research and productivity AI toolkit designed for professionals and enthusiasts, which is the direction they seem to be heading in.