Episode 21

Demoing Perplexity's Tools with Intern Zoe Rawheiser

In this episode of AI for the Humanities, Meghan McInnis-Domínguez, Associate Professor of Spanish at the University of Delaware, introduces Zoe Rawheiser, an intern studying Perplexity AI. Zoe demonstrates how Perplexity’s specialized features—Pro Search, Focus modes, and Spaces—can be tailored for humanities research and academic collaboration. She highlights practical use cases like sourcing reliable scholarly articles, summarizing PDF documents, and organizing threads for collective projects. While Perplexity AI’s streamlined searches and comprehensive overviews benefit users seeking efficiency, the episode also addresses limitations such as scope restrictions, reliance on summaries, and the need for critical engagement. Viewers gain actionable strategies for harnessing AI tools without sacrificing the depth and rigor fundamental to the humanities.