Hey Designers! It’s Jenna Gaidusek here, and today I’m diving into something that can really boost our efficiency—AI tools. We all juggle creativity with the business side of things, from managing client communication to overcoming creative blocks. That’s where AI can help. Two top tools, ChatGPT and Perplexity AI, offer unique features to streamline our workflows. In this blog, I’ll break down how each tool works and help you decide which one is the right fit for your design business.

What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is an AI that’s known for its conversational style and its ability to assist with a wide range of creative and operational tasks. It’s highly versatile, making it ideal for situations where you need to brainstorm, generate content, or even create visual concepts.

Here’s how ChatGPT can support you in your design work:

• Conversational Abilities: One of the standout features of ChatGPT is its ability to hold natural, flowing conversations. If you’re drafting client emails, proposals, or even a presentation, ChatGPT can help refine your language to ensure your message is clear and professional while maintaining a personal tone.

• Content Creation & Brainstorming: Whether you need to write a blog post for your design website, outline a project proposal, or get past creative block, ChatGPT can assist with idea generation and writing. It’s particularly useful when you’re short on time or need a fresh perspective.

• Image Generation: ChatGPT integrates with OpenAI’s DALL-E, allowing you to generate images based on descriptions. This is a handy feature when you’re looking to quickly visualize a concept or pull together a mood board for a client presentation.

• Customizable Workflows: You can create tailored versions of ChatGPT to align with your business needs. Imagine having an AI that understands your preferred design styles, remembers your project timelines, and can help manage client expectations—that’s the kind of customization ChatGPT offers.

However, it’s important to note that ChatGPT does have limitations. While it can access real-time information when web browsing is enabled, its default model relies on data with a cutoff point, meaning it may not always have the most current information, especially when it comes to recent design trends or product releases.

What is Perplexity AI?

Perplexity AI is designed for research and factual accuracy. It’s built to deliver precise, real-time information with source citations, making it a great tool when you need to gather data, conduct research, or verify facts.

Here’s what makes Perplexity AI valuable for design professionals:

• Fact-Checked, Source-Backed Answers: When you’re researching materials, sourcing sustainable products, or needing up-to-date industry data, Perplexity AI not only gives you the information but also provides links to the original sources. This makes it easy to verify facts and dive deeper into your research.

• Real-Time, Accurate Information: Because it pulls data directly from the web, Perplexity ensures that you’re accessing the most current information available. Whether you’re researching the latest design trends, building codes, or regulations, this tool can give you timely and relevant answers.

• Specialized Filters: Perplexity also offers customized search filters that let you tailor your queries. For example, the Academic filter is perfect for finding scholarly articles on architecture or sustainability, while the Social filter can pull community discussions that offer insights into client preferences or design debates.

That said, Perplexity AI is not the tool you’d want to turn to for creative writing or generating design concepts. It’s very much a research-focused tool, which makes it a great asset for accuracy but less helpful when you need assistance with brainstorming or drafting creative proposals.

Let’s break down how ChatGPT and Perplexity AI stack up in key areas for interior design professionals:

Content Creation:

• ChatGPT is great for writing blog posts, client proposals, and generating creative ideas. It’s your go-to for anything that requires imagination or brainstorming.

• Perplexity AI isn’t meant for creative writing. It’s focused on delivering factual information and research.

Information Retrieval:

• ChatGPT can provide general knowledge but may not always be up-to-date unless web browsing is enabled.

• Perplexity AI excels at pulling real-time, accurate information with source citations—perfect for current trends and regulations.

Client Communication:

• ChatGPT is ideal for drafting emails or presentations with a natural, conversational tone.

• Perplexity AI is more suited for answering factual questions quickly, not for warm or personalized communications.

Design Research:

• ChatGPT can help with summaries, but it may not always have the latest data.

• Perplexity AI is great for deep research and staying on top of new trends, with well-sourced, up-to-date info.

Creative Brainstorming:

• ChatGPT is the clear winner for idea generation and even visual concepts.

• Perplexity AI is focused on facts, so it won’t help much with creative thinking.

Source Citations:

• ChatGPT usually doesn’t provide citations, which can make it less reliable for research.

• Perplexity AI always provides sources, so you can verify the information.

Customization:

• ChatGPT allows for high customization—you can create tailored versions to fit your design business needs.

• Perplexity AI doesn’t offer this level of customization but has specific search filters to narrow down results.

Explore the model that’s right for you during October! Chat GPT Class or in the October DAIly Training.

Join the AI-Driven Future of Interior Design

Embracing AI tools like ChatGPT positions your business at the forefront of innovation in the interior design industry. It's not just about keeping up with trends—it's about setting them.

This article was written by Jenna Gaidusek and enhanced using Chat GPT.