AI conversational search engine Perplexity has expanded its platform to include AI image generation capabilities, utilising the same OpenAI model recently made available for ChatGPT. This update allows users to generate AI-produced visuals alongside textual answers, enhancing the interactive experience on the Perplexity web platform.

The image generation feature was quietly introduced this week, providing free users with three image generations per day, while Perplexity Pro subscribers enjoy unlimited creations. Users can simply request the AI to "generate an image of" a particular subject or provide similar prompts to initiate the visual creation process. Notably, even if users do not manually select the GPT-4.1 model—OpenAI’s latest iteration—Perplexity automatically employs it for image generation, as other models available on the platform do not support this function.

To demonstrate the capability, Perplexity generated a fantasy landscape featuring dragons, a result visually comparable to an image created by ChatGPT using the same prompt. This addition represents a diversification of the AI interaction beyond text-based responses into artistic visual content.

Beyond image generation, Perplexity has also expanded its model suite to include xAI’s Grok 3 model for answering user queries and OpenAI’s o4-mini model as part of its "reasoning" options. These introductions allow users greater flexibility in choosing the AI models that best fit their needs within the platform.

Perplexity’s strategy focuses on curating and integrating a selection of AI models into its platform, rather than developing entirely new models from the ground up. This approach aims to streamline access for users who may want to experiment with multiple AI systems without committing exclusively to any single one.

The inclusion of image generation from ChatGPT’s model provides an engaging visual element to Perplexity’s AI search engine and is anticipated to gain further traction once integrated with the voice assistant feature on Perplexity’s mobile application. As this development progresses, it enables users to not only receive precise answers but also enjoy the added appeal of AI-created imagery during their interactions.

Source: Noah Wire Services