Holy shit… Perplexity might be the best research assistant on the...
Jafar Najafov@JafarNajafov
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Nov 25, 2025
~2 min read
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Holy shit… Perplexity might be the best research assistant on the planet.
After 5 months of use, it’s now doing 80% of my research, analysis, and writing.
Here’s exactly how I automated everything (with prompts you can steal):
After 5 months of use, it’s now doing 80% of my research, analysis, and writing.
Here’s exactly how I automated everything (with prompts you can steal):
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1. Literature Review Automation
Prompt:
“Act as a research collaborator specializing in [field].
Search the latest papers (past 12 months) on [topic], summarize key contributions, highlight methods, and identify where results conflict.
Format output as: Paper | Year | Key Idea | Limitation | Open Question.”
Outputs structured meta-analysis with citations perfect for your review sections.
Prompt:
“Act as a research collaborator specializing in [field].
Search the latest papers (past 12 months) on [topic], summarize key contributions, highlight methods, and identify where results conflict.
Format output as: Paper | Year | Key Idea | Limitation | Open Question.”
Outputs structured meta-analysis with citations perfect for your review sections.
0:38
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2. Comparative Model Analysis
Prompt:
“Compare how [Model A] and [Model B] handle [task].
Include benchmark results, parameter size, inference speed, and unique training tricks from their papers or blog posts.
Return in a comparison table.”
Ideal for ML researchers or product teams evaluating tech stacks.
Prompt:
“Compare how [Model A] and [Model B] handle [task].
Include benchmark results, parameter size, inference speed, and unique training tricks from their papers or blog posts.
Return in a comparison table.”
Ideal for ML researchers or product teams evaluating tech stacks.
0:26
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3. Market Sizing for Business Ideas
Prompt:
“You’re an analyst at McKinsey. Estimate TAM, SAM, and SOM for [business idea].
Use real data sources (links included) and show reasoning step-by-step.
Format as: Summary → Calculations → Citations.”
This turns Perplexity into your data-backed co-founder.
Prompt:
“You’re an analyst at McKinsey. Estimate TAM, SAM, and SOM for [business idea].
Use real data sources (links included) and show reasoning step-by-step.
Format as: Summary → Calculations → Citations.”
This turns Perplexity into your data-backed co-founder.
1:09
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4. Competitive Landscape Scan
Prompt:
“Find top 10 startups solving [problem] globally.
Include founders, funding rounds, unique approach, and website.
Return in a 2-column table: ‘Company / Edge.’”
Combine this with GPT for follow-up SWOT analysis.
Prompt:
“Find top 10 startups solving [problem] globally.
Include founders, funding rounds, unique approach, and website.
Return in a 2-column table: ‘Company / Edge.’”
Combine this with GPT for follow-up SWOT analysis.
0:22
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5. Research-to-Startup Ideation
Prompt:
“You’re a venture researcher. Based on the latest papers in [field], identify 3 potential startup ideas that could emerge from those discoveries.
Include: core insight, possible product, and target user.”
This is how I generate commercial ideas straight from arXiv.
Prompt:
“You’re a venture researcher. Based on the latest papers in [field], identify 3 potential startup ideas that could emerge from those discoveries.
Include: core insight, possible product, and target user.”
This is how I generate commercial ideas straight from arXiv.
0:14
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6. Policy or Grant Writing Drafts
Prompt:
“You’re a policy researcher drafting a grant proposal on [topic].
Create a 1-page summary with:
• Problem Statement
• Recent Evidence (cited)
• Intervention Logic
• Expected Impact
• References”
Produces structured, funder-ready material from scratch.
Prompt:
“You’re a policy researcher drafting a grant proposal on [topic].
Create a 1-page summary with:
• Problem Statement
• Recent Evidence (cited)
• Intervention Logic
• Expected Impact
• References”
Produces structured, funder-ready material from scratch.
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7. Framework Synthesis
Prompt:
“Synthesize all major frameworks on [concept] from business, psychology, and economics.
Output a unified model in visual markdown (hierarchy or table format).”
Perfect for turning theory into a usable framework.
Prompt:
“Synthesize all major frameworks on [concept] from business, psychology, and economics.
Output a unified model in visual markdown (hierarchy or table format).”
Perfect for turning theory into a usable framework.
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8. Rapid Trend Analysis
Prompt:
“Analyze global trends in [sector] since 2023.
Highlight growth drivers, headwinds, key players, and future opportunities.
Cite at least 3 verified data sources with links.”
I use this weekly to map emerging spaces (AI infra, edtech, healthtech).
Prompt:
“Analyze global trends in [sector] since 2023.
Highlight growth drivers, headwinds, key players, and future opportunities.
Cite at least 3 verified data sources with links.”
I use this weekly to map emerging spaces (AI infra, edtech, healthtech).
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9. Thought Leadership Research
Prompt:
“You’re my ghost researcher.
I’m writing a LinkedIn/X post about [topic].
Find 5 recent stats, 3 contrarian takes, and 2 academic papers I can reference.
Format clearly with citations.”
Instantly boosts content credibility.
Prompt:
“You’re my ghost researcher.
I’m writing a LinkedIn/X post about [topic].
Find 5 recent stats, 3 contrarian takes, and 2 academic papers I can reference.
Format clearly with citations.”
Instantly boosts content credibility.
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10. Deep-Dive Explainer Mode
Prompt:
“Explain [complex concept] as if I’m a PhD who wants depth but no fluff.
Use analogies, historical context, and citations from recent literature.
Then, summarize in 5 bullet takeaways.”
Turns any topic into an instant briefing document...
Prompt:
“Explain [complex concept] as if I’m a PhD who wants depth but no fluff.
Use analogies, historical context, and citations from recent literature.
Then, summarize in 5 bullet takeaways.”
Turns any topic into an instant briefing document...
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After 5 months, I can say this:
Perplexity isn’t just for answering questions it’s for designing workflows.
Every researcher, founder, or strategist should have at least one “Perplexity pipeline” running in the background.
Perplexity isn’t just for answering questions it’s for designing workflows.
Every researcher, founder, or strategist should have at least one “Perplexity pipeline” running in the background.