I don’t always work with AI, but when I do, I use Perplexity. For one thing, it gives me access to a number of popular models, including GPT, Claude, and Gemini… no need to have separate subscriptions to all those models. For another, the company offered a complimentary 12-month Pro subscription last December to all PayPal users, so I’m still in my free trial. Free beats cheap.
In Perplexity, you can fill in personal preferences to establish background and standing instructions. (Pretty much all AI chat interfaces let you do this.) All models use the same preferences, and it’s interesting to see the differences in how various models interpret your instructions. My instructions include this passage:
Prefer declarative sentences and active verbs. Prioritize clarity, precision, and logic. Avoid wordiness: fluff, padding, throat-clearing. Don’t flatter me or try to sell me. Make every word earn its place, each thought follow from the last. Be certain of facts. Make each sentence feel necessary.
There is one model that follows these instructions better than the rest, to the point of being borderline brusque at times, and that model is Grok. As problematic as Grok is, it consistently challenges my writing and ideas in the way I want them to be challenged. It willingly says “that’s a bad idea” or “don’t hedge.” It contradicts me without hesitation.
In short, it’s a good foil to the tendencies that Claude (and to a somewhat lesser extent, GPT) encourage. Even after being admonished against blowing smoke up my ass, Claude often tells me my ideas are the Best. Ideas. Ever. So my current AI practice is to brainstorm with Claude, test drafts against Grok, and do final review with GPT.
How do you do it these days?
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