AI-powered search engine Perplexity has launched a new service that aims to simplify and expand access to complex patent information and broader innovation insights for researchers, businesses, and the public.
The new offering, Perplexity Patents, allows users to query patent databases using natural language. This eliminates the need for the specialized keywords, complex grammar, and expensive tools traditionally required for patent searches.
The service is designed to understand concepts and meanings beyond direct keywords. It can connect users to related content, similar data features, and relevant prior art, even if specific terms are not explicitly used in the search.
Crucially, Perplexity Patents extends its search capabilities beyond formal patent documents. It incorporates academic papers, public software repositories, blogs, and videos to provide a more holistic view of innovation.
This expanded scope is particularly beneficial for businesses and researchers. It allows them to gain a comprehensive understanding of technological developments and emerging trends.
Historically, locating relevant patents has been a complex and often costly endeavor, demanding specific expertise.
Perplexity Patents aims to make this process accessible to a wider audience. Users can ask direct questions, such as inquiring about AI patents for language learning or prominent quantum computing patents from a specific year.
The system responds with relevant patent data sets and maintains search context. This allows for follow-up questions or comparisons of inventions without needing to restart a search.
For verification, the platform displays sources and provides direct links to dozens or hundreds of reference documents.
For example, a search for “Fitness Trackers” could yield related patents like “Activity Nands,” “Step-counting Watches,” and “Health Monitoring Wearables,” even if those exact phrases were not in the initial query.
Perplexity Patents is currently in a free beta testing phase for all users. Subscribers to Perplexity’s Pro and Max tiers will receive higher search quotas and access to fine-tuned AI models.