perplexity-search

What This Skill Does

The perplexity-search skill enables the OpenClaw AI agent to leverage Perplexity's powerful Sonar suite for citation-backed, real-time web retrieval. Unlike standard search tools, this skill provides direct access to advanced reasoning and deep research models (Sonar, Sonar Pro, Sonar Reasoning Pro, and Sonar Deep Research) through the AIsa API. It is specifically engineered to handle complex queries that require verifying sources, comparing modern technology stacks, or synthesizing vast amounts of web data into coherent, professional reports.

Installation

To integrate this skill into your OpenClaw environment, use the OpenClaw CLI tool. Run the following command in your terminal: clawhub install openclaw/skills/skills/bowen-dotcom/aisa-perplexity-search-skill Ensure you have configured your AISA_API_KEY in your environment variables to allow the client to authenticate with the AIsa backend. The skill utilizes a bundled Python client located at {baseDir}/scripts/perplexity_search_client.py, which manages the API communication and endpoint routing automatically.

Use Cases

This skill is ideal for research-intensive tasks. Use it when you need to:

• Fact-check specific claims using reliable web citations.
• Generate comparative analysis reports between competing software solutions.
• Conduct multi-step reasoning to evaluate market trends or technical architectures.
• Automate long-form, comprehensive research projects where deep synthesis is required.

Example Prompts

1. "Perform a deep research report on the current trajectory of AI coding agents through 2026, including citations for all major frameworks mentioned."
2. "Compare the architectural differences between Sonar Reasoning Pro and standard web search models regarding their capability to handle complex logical, multi-step queries."
3. "Analyze the competitive landscape for vertical AI agents versus general-purpose copilots and summarize the key defensive strategies for each."

Tips & Limitations

When selecting a model, match the intensity of the task: use sonar for fast, lightweight responses and sonar-deep-research for high-depth, high-effort reports. Note that sonar-deep-research is resource-heavy and may result in slower response times or timeouts depending on the complexity of the query. For formatted outputs, use the --system flag in the CLI to instruct the model to provide specific response structures like executive summaries, Markdown tables, or structured lists. Always ensure your AIsa account has sufficient credits for deep research operations, as these can incur higher costs than standard search queries.