As of December 2025, Perplexity AI is used by a growing number of Australian businesses, particularly those in marketing, research, and content creation, as an information discovery and summarisation tool. It functions as an ‘answer engine’ rather than a traditional search engine, providing direct responses to queries sourced from multiple online sources, complete with citations.
Perplexity AI’s core mechanism involves large language models (LLMs) processing natural language questions and retrieving information from the live web. Currently, the ‘Pro’ subscription, available to Australian users at AUD$30/month, now includes ‘Copilot’ – a conversational mode allowing for iterative refinement of searches. A key feature is its ability to generate source citations directly within its responses, aiding in fact-checking and transparency, important for Australian compliance standards regarding advertising and information accuracy. In December 2025, Perplexity also offers a team plan for collaborative use, and API access for integration with other tools. Perplexity’s Australian data centres, established in late 2024, contribute to faster response times for local users. Announced for 2027 is a planned expansion of multilingual support, including enhanced capabilities for Indigenous Australian languages.
Essentially, Perplexity AI operates by synthesising information from the internet and presenting it as a concise, cited answer, streamlining the research process for Australian businesses.
