Perplexity Deep Search
Verified@ericsantos
npx machina-cli add skill @ericsantos/perplexity-deep-search --openclawPerplexity Deep Search
AI-powered web search with three modes for different depth levels.
Quick Start
# Quick search (sonar) - facts, summaries, current events
{baseDir}/scripts/search.sh "latest AI news"
# Reasoning (sonar-reasoning-pro) - complex analysis, multi-step
{baseDir}/scripts/search.sh --mode reason "compare React vs Vue for enterprise apps"
# Deep Research (sonar-deep-research) - full reports, exhaustive analysis
{baseDir}/scripts/search.sh --mode research "market analysis of AI in healthcare 2025"
Modes
| Mode | Model | Best For | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
search (default) | sonar-pro | Quick facts, summaries, current events | Low |
reason | sonar-reasoning-pro | Complex analysis, comparisons, problem-solving | Medium |
research | sonar-deep-research | In-depth reports, market analysis, literature reviews | High |
Options
| Flag | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
--mode | search, reason, research | search |
--recency | hour, day, week, month | — |
--domains | Comma-separated domain filter | — |
--lang | Language code (pt, en, es, etc.) | — |
--json | Raw JSON output | off |
Examples
# Search with recency filter
{baseDir}/scripts/search.sh --recency week "OpenAI latest announcements"
# Search restricted to specific domains
{baseDir}/scripts/search.sh --domains "arxiv.org,nature.com" "transformer architecture advances"
# Search in Portuguese
{baseDir}/scripts/search.sh --lang pt "inteligência artificial no Brasil"
# Deep research with JSON output
{baseDir}/scripts/search.sh --mode research --json "enterprise AI adoption trends"
API Key
Set PERPLEXITY_API_KEY env var, or store it in a file:
mkdir -p ~/.config/perplexity
echo "your_key_here" > ~/.config/perplexity/api_key
chmod 600 ~/.config/perplexity/api_key
The script checks the env var first, then falls back to the file.
Pricing Reference
- Search (sonar-pro): ~$0.01/query
- Reasoning (sonar-reasoning-pro): ~$0.02/query
- Deep Research (sonar-deep-research): ~$0.40/query (uses many searches + reasoning)
Use search for everyday queries. Reserve research for when you truly need exhaustive analysis.
Overview
Perplexity Deep Search provides AI-powered web search across three depth levels: quick facts, multi-step reasoning, and in-depth reports. It returns AI-grounded answers with citations, helping you choose speed or depth for any research task.
How This Skill Works
Queries are sent to the Perplexity API. You select a mode with --mode (search, reason, or research), which maps to sonar-pro, sonar-reasoning-pro, and sonar-deep-research. Optional filters like --recency, --domains, and --lang tailor results; use --json for raw output.
When to Use It
- Quickly fetch facts or current events with fast results
- Perform multi-step analysis or comparisons
- Create in-depth market analyses or literature reviews
- Restrict searches to trusted domains (e.g., arxiv.org, nature.com)
- Get results in a specific language or with recency filters
Quick Start
- Step 1: Set your Perplexity API key (PERPLEXITY_API_KEY) via env var or file
- Step 2: Run a quick search: {baseDir}/scripts/search.sh latest AI news
- Step 3: Choose --mode (search, reason, or research) and add optional flags like --recency, --domains, --lang, or --json
Best Practices
- Start with a quick search to validate facts before deeper analysis
- Use reason mode for structured, multi-step analysis and comparisons
- Reserve research mode for exhaustive, in-depth reports
- Narrow results with --recency and --domains to improve relevance
- Use --json when exporting results to apps or automation pipelines
Example Use Cases
- Find latest AI news with a quick search
- Compare React vs Vue for enterprise apps using reason mode
- Generate a market analysis report on AI in healthcare for 2025 with deep research
- Filter results to arxiv.org and nature.com for scholarly sources
- Export results as JSON for an automation workflow
