Significant Citation Discrepancy Between Perplexity Web UI and API

mini
Mon, 08 Dec 2025 03:03:31 +0000
Bug Reports

Hello,

I would like to receive an official explanation regarding the citation quality differences between the Perplexity Web UI search and the Perplexity API responses.

{
    "domains": [
        "ft.com",
        "wsj.com",
        "barrons.com",
        "marketwatch.com",
        "seekingalpha.com",
        "reuters.com",
        "cnbc.com",
        "motleyfool.com",
        "bloomberg.com",
        "investing.com",
        "finviz.com",
        "tradingeconomics.com",
        "simplywallst.com",
        "fortune.com",
        "forbes.com",
        "investors.com",
        "investopedia.com",
        "finance.yahoo.com",
        "theblock.co",
        "nasdaq.com",
        "morningstar.com"
    ]
}

#payload
        payload = {
            "model": self.model,
            "search_domain_filter": domains,
            "messages": [
                {
                    "role": "system",
                    "content": "You are a concise and factual search agent. Search the web for the most relevant and recent information.",
                },
                {"role": "user", "content": query},
            ],
            "temperature": 0.1,
            "top_p": 0.9,
            "presence_penalty": 1,
            # "return_citations": True,
            # "web_search_options": {"search_context_size": "low"},
        }


#result.json
{
  "test_date": "2025-12-08T10:04:10.380513",
  "test_type": "each",
  "model": "sonar-pro",
  "query": "NVIDIA news",
  "total_domains": 21,
  "success_count": 6,
  "fail_count": 15,
  "success": [
    {
      "domain": "investing.com",
      "status": "success",
      "citations": [
        "https://www.investing.com/news/company-news/nvidia-invests-2-billion-in-synopsys-as-part-of-strategic-partnership-93CH-4383769",
        "https://ca.investing.com/analysis/synopsys-nvidia-deal-highlights-undervalued-growth-after-a-weak-2025-200620326",
        "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/nvidia-invests-2-billion-in-chip-design-software-provider-synopsys-4383715",
        "https://ca.investing.com/news/insider-trading-news/seawell-a-brooke-nvidia-director-sells-23-million-in-nvda-stock-93CH-4349901",
        "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/nvidia-cfo-says-chipmaker-yet-to-finalize-100-billion-openai-deal-4386594",
        "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/analyst-shares-4-reasons-why-he-remains-bearish-on-nvidia-stock-into-2026-4383864",
        "https://ca.investing.com/analysis/nvidia-pops-postearnings-as-a-110-bn-threat-goes-unnoticed-200620030",
        "https://ca.investing.com/analysis/nvidia-earnings-3-red-flags-the-ai-trade-is-topping-200619943",
        "https://ca.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/nvidia-ceo-calls-china-a-bonus-opportunity-amid-surging-global-demand-93CH-4342318",
        "https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/bipartisan-bill-aims-to-block-nvidias-advanced-chip-sales-to-china--ft-93CH-4391843"
      ],
      "content": "Nvidia’s most recent news centers on a major strategic investment, expanding AI partnerships, and rising political scrutiny over China sales.\n\n**Key corporate and deal news**\n\n- **$2 billion Synopsys stake and expanded partnership:**  \n  Nvidia invested **$2 billion** in chip‑design software leader **Synopsys**, buying common stock at **$414.79 per share** as part of a multi‑year, non‑exclusive strategic tie‑up to integrate Nvidia’s **CUDA** and AI/accelerated computing into Synopsys’ engineering and simulation tools.[1][3]  \n  The collaboration targets GPU‑accelerated chip design, p

At first, I used the Perplexity API’s search_domain_filter and called it with our domain list.
Among all 21 domains, the API generated citations for only 6 of them.

For comparison, I tested the same domains individually in the Web UI.
Using a repeated query like “{ ft.com } NVIDIA news.” (changing only the domain),
the Web UI cited 20 out of 21 domains, with theblock.co being the only exception.
This means there is a 14-domain difference in citation results between the UI and the AP

Next, I tried removing search_domain_filter entirely and asked the API using queries that directly included each domain, similar to how the Web UI processes searches.

  TEST_QUERY = "ft.com NVIDIA News"

        payload = {
            "model": self.model,
            "messages": [
                {
                    "role": "system",
                    "content": "You are a concise and factual search agent. Search the web for the most relevant and recent information.",
                },
                {"role": "user", "content": query},
            ],
            "temperature": 0.1,
            "top_p": 0.9,
            "presence_penalty": 1,

        }



#result.json
{
  "test_date": "2025-12-08T11:17:59.886648",
  "test_type": "no_filter",
  "model": "sonar-pro",
  "query": "ft.com NVIDIA News",
  "result": {
    "status": "success",
    "citations": [],
    "content": "Here are some of the most recent and relevant NVIDIA‑related pieces from the Financial Times (ft.com). I can’t link directly, but you can find them by searching FT with the quoted headlines:\n\n1. **Nvidia and the AI chip boom**\n   - FT has been running regular coverage on how Nvidia dominates the AI accelerator market (H100, B100/Blackwell, and next‑gen architectures) and how that drives data‑centre spending by Microsoft, Amazon, Google and Meta.\n   - Articles focus on:\n     - Whether hyperscalers can reduce reliance on Nvidia via in‑house chips (e.g., AWS Trainium, Google TPU, Microsoft Maia).\n     - Capacity constraints, long lead times, and how much of Nvidia’s growth is sustainable versus “bubble‑like” AI capex.\n\n2. **US export controls and China**\n   - FT has covered repeated rounds of US restrictions on advanced GPU exports to China and the Middle East and Nvidia’s responses (A800/H800, then other “compliant” variants).\n   - Key themes:\n     - Impact on Nvidia’s China data‑centre revenue.\n     - How much lost China demand is offset by US and other markets.\n     - The geopolitical risk premium now embedded in Nvidia’s valuation.\n\n3. **Valuation, earnings and market concentration**\n   - Frequent FT markets and Lex columns analyse:\n     - Nvidia’s quarterly earnings beats, guidance, and dependence on a small number of big cloud customers.\n     - Whether Nvidia’s market cap and revenue growth imply an AI “mania” or are justified by margins and order visibility.\n     - Comparison with prior tech bubbles and with other “Magnificent Seven” stocks.\n\n4. **Competition and ecosystem control**\n   - Coverage of:\n     - AMD’s MI300/MI325 and upcoming MI400 accelerators as the main rival in data‑centre GPUs.\n     - Intel’s efforts (Gaudi line, foundry strategy) and how far behind it is.\n     - Nvidia’s software moat (CUDA, cuDNN, networking/Mellanox, NVLink) and FT commentary on potential regulatory scrutiny over ecosystem lock‑in.\n\n5. **Nvidia’s role in broader AI and semiconductor supply chains**\n   - FT pieces on:\n     - How Nvidia’s demand shapes TSMC’s capex and advanced node roadmaps.\n     - The impact on memory suppliers (HBM from SK Hynix, Samsung, Micron).\n     - Power and infrastructure constraints in data centres driven by GPU clusters.\n\nTo see the latest, go to ft.com and search for:\n- “Nvidia FT Lex”\n- “Nvidia AI chips Financial Times”\n- “Nvidia US export controls China site:ft.com”\n\nThat will surface the most up‑to‑date news and opinion pieces on Nvidia from the FT.",
    "search_results": [],

Running the tests again across all 21 domains,
I observed that this approach produced 1–2 more citations compared to using search_domain_filter.
However, the citation quality still showed a significant gap compared to Web UI search.

The Perplexity official FAQ clearly states the following:

Given this, I would like to ask:

Why does this citation quality difference occur between the Web UI and the API?

Does the API truly use the same search system as the Web UI?

Is this discrepancy intentional by design?

Is there a roadmap to bring API citation quality to the same level as the Web UI?

Please let me know.

Thank you.