Perplexity, an AI search engine, claims to offer short summaries with footnotes linking to real-time sources. However, a study by GPTZero revealed that Perplexity often cites AI-generated blogs with inaccurate and contradictory information. Perplexity’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, emphasized the importance of citations, but the reliance on AI-generated sources raises concerns about the accuracy of the information provided.
The study found that Perplexity users encounter AI-generated sources after entering just three prompts on average. Despite efforts to classify sources as authoritative, Perplexity’s system is not flawless and continues to improve. The challenge lies in distinguishing between authentic and fake content as AI-generated posts become more prevalent on the internet. GPTZero CEO Edward Tian warned that using AI-generated sources can result in “second-hand hallucinations” and urged caution in relying on such content.
Perplexity’s reliance on AI-generated sources extends to health information, with examples of contradictory information provided by AI-generated blogs on medical topics. In response to questions about the accuracy of its sources, Perplexity’s Chief Business Officer Dmitri Shevelenko acknowledged the system’s imperfections and ongoing efforts to refine its processes. Concerns have been raised about the reliability of Perplexity’s information, especially in critical areas like healthcare.
Perplexity faced allegations of plagiarizing content from news outlets like Forbes, CNBC, and Bloomberg. Forbes sent a cease and desist letter to Perplexity for lifting sentences and details from an exclusive story without proper attribution. While Perplexity denied the allegations, the incident raised concerns about the startup’s ethical practices and its handling of copyrighted material. The company’s reliance on AI-generated sources for content creation has also been scrutinized.
Despite the controversy, Perplexity has garnered significant funding from high-profile tech investors and gained popularity with a large user base. The company’s revenue-sharing program aims to compensate publishers cited in its AI-generated responses, signaling a recognition of the role publishers play in creating a healthy information ecosystem. However, questions remain about the quality and reliability of Perplexity’s information, particularly as it continues to rely on AI-generated sources for content.
AI companies like Perplexity face challenges in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the sources used in their products. The use of AI-generated data from unvetted sources can lead to biases and inaccuracies, impacting the quality of information provided by AI systems. Experts warn of the potential for disinformation and model collapse if AI models are trained on low-quality or biased data. As the use of AI in content generation increases, the need for transparent and reliable sourcing practices becomes increasingly important.
