Date: 03/25/2025
Okay, this Perplexica video looks seriously cool. It’s basically about an open-source, AI-powered search engine inspired by Perplexity AI, but you can self-host it! It uses things like similarity searching and embeddings, pulls results from SearxNG (privacy-focused!), and can even run local LLMs like Llama3 or Mixtral via Ollama. Plus, it has different “focus modes” for writing, academic search, YouTube, Wolfram Alpha, and even Reddit.
Why am I excited? Because this screams custom workflow potential. We’ve been hacking together similar stuff using the OpenAI API, but the thought of a self-hosted, focused search engine that I can integrate directly into our Laravel apps or no-code workflows is huge. Imagine a Laravel Nova panel where content creators can research articles by running Perplexica’s “writing assistant” mode, then import the results into their CMS. Or an internal knowledge base that leverages the “academic search” mode to keep employees up-to-date with the latest research. The privacy aspect is also a big win for clients who are sensitive about data.
Honestly, the biggest appeal is the control and customization. I’m already brainstorming how we could tweak the focus modes and integrate them with our existing LLM chains for even more targeted automation. The fact that it’s open source and supports local LLMs means we aren’t just relying on closed APIs anymore. I’m definitely earmarking some time this week to spin up a Perplexica instance and see how we can make it sing. Imagine the possibilities!