DEV Community

Cover image for Pick the Right AI Model in Perplexity: Better Answers
Dr Hernani Costa
Dr Hernani Costa

Posted on • Originally published at firstaimovers.com

Pick the Right AI Model in Perplexity: Better Answers

#ai #automation #productivity #tools

Perplexity Pro Tip—Pick the Right Model, Get Better Answers

By Dr. Hernani Costa — Jul 2, 2025

A quick guide to GPT-4 vs Claude vs Gemini inside Perplexity, plus Amazon's million-robot milestone and Nvidia's "virtual power plant" play.

Welcome to First AI Movers Pro. Today's lead walks you through Perplexity's model selector—why it matters, when to switch, and how to squeeze the most value from each engine.

Choosing the Best AI Model in Perplexity 🔎

Perplexity's free tier auto-picks a fast, general model ("Best" mode). Upgrade to Perplexity Pro and a dropdown appears: GPT-4.1, O3, Claude 4 Sonnet, Gemini 2.5, and more. Here is how to decide which brain to borrow.

Task Best pick Why it shines
Deep research with citations GPT-4.1 Handles long context and nuanced reasoning; top citation accuracy.
Conversational Q and A Claude 4 Sonnet Faster, friendlier tone; lower token cost than GPT-4.
Rapid brainstorming Gemini 2.5 Generates many diverse ideas and images quickly.
Code review or bug fixes O3 Tuned for step-by-step reasoning and structured output.
Everyday look-ups "Best" auto mode Saves clicks; Perplexity routes to the cheapest competent model.

Power-user workflow

  1. Ask once in Best mode. Note gaps or style issues.
  2. Clone the chat and switch models—compare responses side by side.
  3. Mix and match. Use GPT-4 for outline, Claude to polish, and Gemini to create a hero image prompt.

Why model choice matters

  • Cost: GPT-4 calls can be 4-6× pricier than Claude on a per-token basis.
  • Speed: Claude Sonnet often replies in half the time of GPT-4 for casual queries.
  • Flavor: Each model was trained on different data; switching can surface fresh sources or code styles.

Bottom line: Treat the model menu like camera lenses—swap to fit the shot. Once you learn which model excels at which chore, Perplexity goes from good to indispensable.

Quick Takes

  • Amazon tops one million warehouse robots and rolls out a foundation model that trims robot travel time by ten percent.
  • Nvidia backs Emerald AI. The stealth start-up lets data centers shift GPU workloads to match grid demand, turning "AI factories" into virtual power plants.
  • Google's Gemini arrives in Classroom for all Education tiers, offering draft feedback bots and auto-generated quizzes.
  • Switch builds compact "AI factories" in Las Vegas, packing more compute per square foot than traditional data centers—designs are optimized for Nvidia gear.

Wrap-Up and CTA

Knowing when to flip Perplexity's model switch turns AI from generic to genius. Give it a spin: run the same question through GPT-4 and Claude today and compare. If this tip saves you time, forward the newsletter to a teammate who still lives in "Best mode."

Thanks for reading,
The First AI Movers Pro Team

Written by Dr Hernani Costa and originally published at First AI Movers. Subscribe to the First AI Movers Newsletter for daily, no‑fluff AI business insights, practical and compliant AI playbooks for EU SME leaders. First AI Movers is part of Core Ventures.

Top comments (0)