Perplexity launches GenAI tool to turn data into charts, tables and spreadsheets

Perplexity, the AI-powered search engine known for delivering cited answers to complex queries, has unveiled a new product called Perplexity Labs.

The tool, now in beta, allows users to generate dynamic web apps, spreadsheets, and dashboards using plain English prompts, signalling the company’s expansion beyond search and into the world of productivity software.

Labs enables users to input natural language commands to create interactive tools that would traditionally require coding knowledge.

Want to visualize stock performance over time? Create a dashboard for tracking climate trends? Build a live spreadsheet that pulls data from multiple sources? Perplexity Labs claims it can do all that and more—without writing a single line of code.

From answers to actions

Since its inception, Perplexity has positioned itself as a modern alternative to search engines like Google, returning concise, source-backed answers instead of a long list of links. With Labs, the company enables users to not only access information but also act on it. Outputs can range from static tables to real-time dashboards that continuously update with fresh data.

In a recent demo, a user asked Perplexity Labs to “build a dashboard showing the latest renewable energy adoption rates by country,” and within seconds, the tool generated a clean interface with charts, data tables, and external links for verification. Such use cases, the company says, will be especially useful for analysts, journalists, researchers, and decision-makers who regularly work with large volumes of information.

Competing in the AI productivity space

With this launch, Perplexity joins a growing list of AI companies moving toward integrated productivity tools. Microsoft Copilot and Google Gemini have already begun transforming how users interact with spreadsheets, documents, and presentations through AI assistance.

Perplexity’s Labs brings a different approach—focusing on generative functionality rather than enhancing existing software.

While still in beta, Labs is being rolled out to select users, with a broader release expected later in 2025. Perplexity has not yet disclosed whether Labs will be monetized as a premium feature or included in its core offering.

According to the company, Labs is designed to be modular and extensible, meaning developers and teams can build on top of it. APIs and plugin integrations are in the works, and enterprise clients may soon be able to embed Labs functionality directly into internal tools and dashboards.