"The best researchers don't know more — they ask better questions."
By the end of this Beacon, you'll know how to search the web with sources you can check — and how to ask questions about your own documents. Two new tools: Perplexity and NotebookLM.
Perplexity is an AI-powered search engine. Instead of a list of links, you get a direct answer — with sources included. → perplexity.ai
NotebookLM is a Google tool that lets you add your own documents, PDFs, or website links — and then ask questions about them. → notebooklm.google.com
ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are great at writing, explaining, and brainstorming. But research needs one extra thing: you want to see where the information comes from.
That's exactly what these two tools add:
Same question, two very different approaches. You'll feel the difference in a minute.
Step 1 — Perplexity
Step 2 — NotebookLM
Go to notebooklm.google.com, create a new notebook, add en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coffee as a website source, then ask:
Screens and menus may look slightly different — that's normal. Just explore and you'll find your way. 😊
With Perplexity: the answer comes with sources attached — you can see exactly where each claim comes from. With NotebookLM: it only used your article. No guessing, no internet search — just what you gave it. Two different tools, two different superpowers.
Here's a trick for bigger research projects: use the two tools in sequence.
First, ask Perplexity to find good articles on your topic. Then copy the best source links into a NotebookLM notebook — and now you can ask detailed questions about all of them in one place.
Search wide with Perplexity, dig deep with NotebookLM. 😊
You've just discovered two tools that make research feel effortless.
Up next — Beacon 8: Fact or Fiction? You'll learn how to tell when AI is getting it right — and when to be skeptical.
No rush. Come back whenever you're ready. 🙂