# Request for Clarification and Activation of API Access (Invalid Model Error – AI Risk Analysis Project)

**URL:** <https://community.perplexity.ai/t/request-for-clarification-and-activation-of-api-access-invalid-model-error-ai-risk-analysis-project/2177>\
**Category:** Bug Reports\
**Tags:** search-api\
**Created:** [October 21, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://community.perplexity.ai/t/request-for-clarification-and-activation-of-api-access-invalid-model-error-ai-risk-analysis-project/2177 "2025-10-21T00:50:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Eesh\_Kerwin\_Gaur](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.perplexity.ai/eesh_kerwin_gaur/32/1495_2.png) [@Eesh\_Kerwin\_Gaur](https://community.perplexity.ai/u/Eesh_Kerwin_Gaur)\
**Post date:** [October 21, 2025, 12:50am UTC](https://community.perplexity.ai/t/request-for-clarification-and-activation-of-api-access-invalid-model-error-ai-risk-analysis-project/2177/1 "2025-10-21T00:50:39Z")

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I am currently developing an **AI-powered risk assessment and adverse media screening dashboard** that integrates the Perplexity API to analyze financial crime-related news and entities. The project is designed to demonstrate real-time due diligence, risk scoring, and risk visualization using Perplexity’s large language models.

However, I am encountering repeated errors when attempting to invoke the API. The response consistently shows:

{“error”: {“message”: “Invalid model ‘pplx-7b-chat’. Permitted models can be found in the documentation at [Page Not Found](https://docs.perplexity.ai/getting-started/models.%E2%80%9D), “type”: “invalid\_model”, “code”: 400}}

I have tried multiple model names, including **`"pplx-7b-chat"`** , **`"pplx-70b-chat"`** , and **`"pplx-search-v1"`** , but all return the same invalid model message. Additionally, attempting to access the **`/models`** endpoint results in a 404 error.

Could you please assist with the following:

1. Confirm if my current API key includes permission for model access.

2. Provide the correct model names that are accessible for my API key. I have Perplexity Pro.

For reference, my API key follows the format:  
**`pplx-**** `**

## Technical Summary:

The project runs in both **Google Colab** and **Python** environments.  
It utilizes a lightweight analyzer script that sends dynamic queries to the Perplexity API and presents risk scores through a **dark-mode HTML dashboard**. The dashboard visually ranks entities as Low, Medium, or High risk, based on detected fraud, money laundering, or sanction terms within Perplexity’s search responses.

I am preparing this as part of my AI compliance presentation, so timely activation or guidance would be greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Kesku](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex001/user_avatar/community.perplexity.ai/kesku/32/898_2.png) [@Kesku](https://community.perplexity.ai/u/Kesku)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2025, 1:55am UTC](https://community.perplexity.ai/t/request-for-clarification-and-activation-of-api-access-invalid-model-error-ai-risk-analysis-project/2177/2 "2025-10-22T01:55:00Z")

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**Hey Eesh — welcome! 👋**

The error occurs because the `pplx-*` models (like `pplx-7b-chat` or `pplx-70b-chat`) have been deprecated. Please switch to the **Sonar** model family instead — for most use cases, `sonar` or `sonar-pro` will work perfectly.

You can find the full list of supported models here: [https://docs.perplexity.ai/getting-started/models](https://docs.perplexity.ai/getting-started/models)

A `/models` endpoint does not exist in our API, so seeing a 404 there is expected. Refer to the documentation site as the error suggests you do.