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If you’ve ever had to sift through patent databases, you’ll understand that it’s not the most straightforward process, particularly if you’re not familiar with the intricacies of keyword searching or lack serious patience.
Now, AI search firm Perplexity is rolling out a new search engine specifically for patents, Perplexity Patents. Instead of constructing complicated searches for specific keywords, users can use the type of natural language they use in everyday life or when talking to a consumer-focused chatbot. For example, Perplexity says users can simply ask questions like “Are there any patents on AI for language learning?” or “Key quantum computing patents since 2024?”
Perplexity says it will then return collections of relevant patents, providing an inline viewer and direct links to the original documents. Users will then be able to ask follow-up questions in a conversational manner to refine or broaden their search results. The tool will also suggest new potential topics that could be useful to their search process.
Perplexity highlights how the tool can resolve some of the issues involved with traditional keyword searching. For instance, if you search for “fitness trackers,” Perplexity Patents will also give you results about “activity bands,” “step-counting watches,” and “health monitoring wearables,” even if those don’t match the exact keyword.
Perplexity Patents is currently available in beta worldwide, starting today. While in beta, Perplexity Patents will be free for all users, but Pro and Max subscribers will receive additional usage quotas and model configuration options.
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The scope of the tool goes beyond patent databases, as Perplexity says the new tool will also help users explore academic papers, public software repositories, and other sources where new ideas first appear, giving you data on what the subject’s wider landscape looks like even if the projects haven’t reached the patent stage.
If you’re interested in trying some of Perplexity’s products, and patents aren’t something you’re interested in right now, the company’s flagship AI search engine, Comet, became free for the first time earlier this month. It’s available on most major platforms like Windows, iOS and Android, though unless you’re willing to stump up for a Perplexity Pro or Max account, you’ll be limited in the number of searches you can make.
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I’m a reporter covering weekend news. Before joining PCMag in 2024, I picked up bylines in BBC News, The Guardian, The Times of London, The Daily Beast, Vice, Slate, Fast Company, The Evening Standard, The i, TechRadar, and Decrypt Media.
I’ve been a PC gamer since you had to install games from multiple CD-ROMs by hand. As a reporter, I’m passionate about the intersection of tech and human lives. I’ve covered everything from crypto scandals to the art world, as well as conspiracy theories, UK politics, and Russia and foreign affairs.
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