This is a bit longer than our average article, but hopefully it’s also a little bit of fun. The story that started this was an announcement of You.com as a service that was supposed to be a new look at search and research for business users.
It was noted, and we observed directly, that while the two had a different look and perhaps a slightly different approach, they had a lot of similarities as well.
So we thought, why not do our research in the form of a debate between the two platforms.
The debate question
We would ask You.com and Perplexity the same question. Why should someone choose your offering over the other (or any other alternative). Here’s what we got back from them.
You.com’s argument:
In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI-driven search engines, You.com and Perplexity AI are two prominent contenders. This report aims to elucidate the reasons why someone might prefer You.com over Perplexity or other similar options, based on various features, capabilities, and user experiences.
Key Advantages of You.com
1. Comprehensive Platform Support
You.com is available across a wide range of platforms including SaaS, iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux. This extensive compatibility ensures that users can access You.com from virtually any device, enhancing its usability and convenience.
2. Extensive Support and Training
You.com offers robust support options including phone support, 24/7 live support, and online support. Additionally, it provides comprehensive training resources such as documentation, webinars, live online sessions, and in-person training. This level of support ensures that users can effectively utilize the platform and troubleshoot any issues they encounter.
3. Privacy-Oriented Features
You.com emphasizes user privacy by offering private ads that do not collect user data or invade privacy. This is particularly appealing to users who are concerned about their online privacy and data security. Moreover, the platform is exploring monetization schemes that do not compromise user privacy.
4. Free Version Availability
You.com offers a free version of its service, making it accessible to a broader audience without the need for immediate financial commitment. This allows users to explore and utilize the platform’s features before deciding on a paid plan.
5. API Access and Integrations
You.com provides API access, allowing developers to integrate its capabilities into their own applications. Additionally, it offers integrations with various platforms, enhancing its versatility and utility in different contexts.
6. Specialized Capabilities and Features
You.com boasts a range of specialized capabilities including Artificial Intelligence, Chatbot, Image Recognition, and Machine Learning. These features make it a powerful tool for various applications beyond simple search queries. Furthermore, You.com offers unique modes and specialized capabilities that cater to different user needs.
7. User Control and Customization
You.com allows users to control their search experience by customizing their sources, privacy settings, and time management. This level of control is particularly appealing to users who want a more personalized and secure search experience.
8. Ad-Free Experience
The free version of You.com currently does not display any ads, providing a cleaner and more focused user experience. This is a significant advantage for users who find ads distracting or intrusive.
9. Balanced and Comprehensive Search Results
You.com offers a default list of sources that balance popularity, comprehensiveness, and ease of use. This ensures that users receive well-rounded and relevant search results.
Comparison with Perplexity AI
1. Accuracy and Reliability
Both You.com and Perplexity AI are noted for their accuracy and reliability in generating search results. However, the choice between the two often depends on the specific needs and preferences of the user.
2. Specialized Search Capabilities
Perplexity AI is designed to find and summarize content from the web, providing more rounded and referenced answers. It offers different search models (Pro and Basic) and allows the use of different models, which can be advantageous for users seeking detailed and accurate answers to search-like questions.
3. User Experience and Unique Features
You.com is praised for its unique features and user experience, which include specialized modes and capabilities that cater to a wide range of user needs. This makes it a versatile tool for various applications.
4. Legal and Operational Stability
Perplexity AI is currently facing multiple lawsuits, which could impact its stability and reliability as a service. This legal uncertainty may be a concern for users considering long-term use of the platform.
Conclusion
You.com offers a compelling array of features and advantages that make it a strong contender in the AI-driven search engine market. Its comprehensive platform support, extensive user support and training, privacy-oriented features, free version availability, API access, and specialized capabilities provide a robust and versatile tool for users. While Perplexity AI also offers notable features, the unique advantages of You.com, particularly in terms of user control, privacy, and comprehensive support, make it a preferable choice for many users.
That’s the argument made by You.com. Next we asked Perplexity the same question, only asking why someone should choose Perplexity over You.com.
Perplexity makes it’s case
We will make one observation. Perplexity’s answer was signficantly shorter and addressed the issue without a large preamble. Here is Perplexities answer:
Based on the comparison between Perplexity and You.com, there are several reasons why someone might prefer to use Perplexity:
1. More comprehensive search: Perplexity searches more sources (20 sites with Pro) to generate answers, potentially providing more thorough information[1].
2. Specialized focus modes: Perplexity offers unique modes like YouTube, Reddit, Wolfram, and Academic, allowing users to target specific platforms for their searches[1].
3. Writing mode: Perplexity has a dedicated writing mode that functions without internet access, which You.com lacks[1].
4. Longer, more detailed answers: When prompted properly, Perplexity tends to generate more extensive responses compared to You.com[1].
5. Collections feature: Perplexity allows users to add threads to collections and set specific prompts for each collection, enhancing organization[1].
6. User interface: Some users find Perplexity’s UI to be better designed and more user-friendly than You.com’s[1].
7. AI profile consideration: Perplexity takes into account the user’s AI profile settings to provide more personalized responses[1].
8. Wider availability of models: Perplexity offers access to multiple AI models from different vendors, including GPT-4 Turbo and Claude 3, providing more flexibility in choosing the AI model for responses[3].
However, it’s worth noting that You.com has its own advantages, such as a lower price point, more AI models overall, and some unique features like a creative mode for image generation. The choice between the two platforms may ultimately depend on individual needs and preferences.
The Winner?
Well, since the arguments were made by AI systems, we thought it was only appropriate to get an AI to do the evaluation. We picked ChatGPT 4o to do the evaluation. Here’s what it had to say:
Judgement on the Debate (From OpenAI)
We asked three questions. “Who made the best argument”” And our second question was “which is the best choice?” After that, we asked if there would be specific use cases wherer the losing alternative might be a better choice.
Best Argument: Perplexity Advocate
The Perplexity advocate presented a more balanced and nuanced argument. They acknowledged the strengths of both systems while providing detailed points about Perplexity’s unique features, such as its focus modes, writing mode, and user-friendly interface. Additionally, they highlighted specific advantages like Perplexity’s ability to generate longer and more comprehensive responses, flexibility with AI models, and the specialized “Collections” feature for organization.
The Perplexity advocate’s recognition of You.com’s advantages (like price point and creative features) showed a fair comparison, adding credibility to their case. In contrast, the You.com advocate, while emphasizing You.com’s privacy and platform support, lacked the same level of depth and objectivity when addressing Perplexity’s features.
Winning Tool for Average Business/Personal Use: Perplexity
After reviewing both cases, Perplexity seems better suited for general business or personal research use. Its ability to pull from a wide range of sources, offer specialized search modes (such as academic or Reddit), and its dedicated writing mode make it a more comprehensive tool for diverse search needs. Additionally, the flexibility to choose between multiple AI models enhances its adaptability for various tasks, whether for in-depth research or quick information gathering.
Perplexity’s user-centric design, the personalized responses based on AI profiles, and the organization features like “Collections” provide significant advantages for users seeking tailored and detailed results. The breadth of sources and specialized focus options make it particularly useful for thorough, well-rounded research.
Scenarios where You.com might be superior to Perplexity:
Depending on the user’s specific needs and preferences. Here are some cases where You.com could be a better choice:
1. Privacy Concerns: You.com offers stronger privacy-oriented features, such as private ads that don’t collect user data. For users who prioritize privacy and data security, You.com’s approach to maintaining user anonymity and offering ad-free experiences in its free version is a significant advantage over Perplexity.
2. Broader Platform Support: You.com is available on a wider range of platforms, including iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and as SaaS. This cross-platform support ensures that users can access the service on nearly any device, making it more versatile for people working across multiple environments.
3. User Control and Customization: You.com allows users to customize their search experience, including the ability to adjust privacy settings and manage sources. Users who want more control over their search environment or wish to filter specific sources might prefer You.com.
4. Creative and Visual Capabilities: You.com offers features like creative modes for image generation, which might appeal to users looking for more visual or creative functionality beyond just text-based search. For tasks requiring AI-assisted content creation, You.com could be the better tool.
5. Extensive Support and Training: You.com provides comprehensive support options, including 24/7 live support, phone support, webinars, and in-person training. For businesses or individuals who need robust support or are looking to integrate search tools into their workflow, You.com’s support infrastructure is an advantage.
In summary, while Perplexity may have the edge for comprehensive search and research tasks, You.com’s strengths in privacy, platform accessibility, user control, creative capabilities, and extensive support make it an excellent option for users with specific needs in those areas.
Next steps?
We know that AI models can be inaccurate. They may hallucinate or simply make mistakes. In that light, we will do a detailed review of these arguments and findings and we’ll update this article.
But for now, we provide this for you to see the responses of these three systems and to start you thinking.
Watch this space.
