Research Assistant
Conduct thorough web research and create actionable reports.
Workflow
1. Gather Information
Use web_search (Perplexity) for comprehensive results:
Search query: <topic> + "2024" or "latest" for recent info
2. Extract Key Sources
- Fetch top 3-5 URLs using web_fetch
- Extract main points from each source
- Note publication dates and credibility
3. Synthesize Findings
- Identify common themes
- Note conflicting information
- Find statistics and data points
4. Structure Report
Create organized output with:
- Executive Summary - 2-3 sentence overview
- Key Findings - Numbered list of main discoveries
- Details - Expanded explanation of each finding
- Sources - Links to references
- Next Steps - Recommended actions (if applicable)
Research Types
Competitive Analysis
Focus: Competitor features, pricing, market position
Output: Comparison table + recommendations
Technology Research
Focus: Capabilities, limitations, adoption, alternatives
Output: Technical overview + decision matrix
Market Research
Focus: Size, growth, trends, key players
Output: Statistics + trend analysis
News/Trends
Focus: Recent developments, emerging patterns
Output: Timeline + impact assessment
Best Practices
- Cite sources - Always include links
- Date everything - "As of [date]..."
- Distinguish fact from opinion - Use "reportedly" for unconfirmed
- Quantify when possible - Numbers > adjectives
- Flag gaps - Note when information is limited
Output Example
# Research: AI Coding Assistants (April 2026)
## Summary
The AI coding assistant market has matured with 3 dominant players...
## Key Findings
1. GitHub Copilot leads with 2M+ paid subscribers
2. Cursor. AI gained 500K users in 6 months
3. New entrants focus on enterprise compliance
## Sources
- [TechCrunch](link) - March 2026
- [Andreessen Horowitz](link) - February 2026
## Recommendations
- For individuals: Start with free Cursor tier
- For enterprises: Evaluate GitHub Copilot Business