The Rundown: Perplexity new Labs feature transforms simple prompts into comprehensive analytical reports with charts, statistics, and citations using advanced agentic research capabilities.

🧰 Who is this useful for:

• Business analysts needing in-depth market research reports
• Researchers requiring comprehensive data analysis with visual elements
• Content creators looking for detailed industry insights with supporting charts
• Executives wanting thorough competitive analysis with statistical backing

STEP 1: Access Labs Feature

To get started with Perplexity Labs, you'll need an active Perplexity Pro subscription. Once you're logged into your Pro account, head over to the main dashboard where you'll see the familiar search interface.

Look for the lightbulb icon located within the chat input box at the bottom of your screen. This small but powerful icon is your gateway to Labs' advanced research capabilities. Click on it to activate the Labs mode, which will transform your regular search into an agentic research assistant.

STEP 2: Craft Your Research Query

Now comes the most important part, creating a comprehensive prompt that will guide the AI's research process. Unlike regular searches, Labs works best with complex, multi-faceted queries that require deep analysis.

For example, instead of asking "OpenAI model adoption," try something like:

"Analyze the adoption of OpenAI's 4.1, o3, and o4-mini models across industries, with usage statistics and charts."

The key is to be specific about what you want: analysis type, specific subjects, the scope of research, and the format of outputs you need (charts, statistics, comparisons, etc.).

STEP 3: Initiate the Research Process

After entering your detailed prompt, click to start the research process. You'll immediately notice this isn't like a regular search, Labs will display a progress indicator showing it's gathering sources, compiling data, and creating your project.

This process typically takes 5-10 minutes, significantly longer than standard searches, because the AI is performing multiple research tasks simultaneously. You'll see real-time updates showing which sources it's reading, what data it's analyzing, and how it's structuring your report.

STEP 4: Review and Interact with Results

Once the research is complete, you'll receive a comprehensive report that includes multiple components: detailed analysis with proper citations, custom-generated charts and visualizations, statistical breakdowns by industry or category, and a complete list of sources used in the research.

Unlike static reports, you can continue the conversation by asking follow-up questions, requesting additional charts, or going deeper into specific aspects of the analysis. The AI maintains context from its research, allowing follow-up queries.

Pro tip: For best results, structure your initial prompt to include the specific type of analysis you want, the industries or categories to focus on, and the format of outputs you need. The more detailed your initial request, the more comprehensive and useful your final report will be.