How to use free AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity to research emerging market for college project?

What is a step-by-step process for using AI to find data on a new industry and create a professional presentation?

Learn how to use a suite of free AI tools like Perplexity, Elicit, and ChatGPT to conduct in-depth market research on any emerging industry and build a presentation that stands out.

Ready to move beyond basic searches and produce market analysis like a pro? Follow our project guide below to learn the workflow for turning your curiosity into a data-driven presentation.

Imagine this:
You’re sitting on a goldmine of ideas. Maybe it’s EVs, or climate tech, or AR/VR.
You’re curious. You’re motivated.
But the moment you search online, you hit a wall — irrelevant blogs, paywalled reports, outdated stats, or worse… nothing conclusive.

This is the reality for many students and young professionals.
Not because the information doesn’t exist — but because it’s scattered, bloated, and hard to verify.

That’s where AI changes the game.

With tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, Elicit, Feedly, and Notion, research stops being a drag and starts feeling like detective work. You ask smarter questions, pull richer insights, and put together presentations that feel like something straight out of McKinsey.

And guess what? You don’t need to be an MBA grad or market analyst.
Just some curiosity, the right tools, and a bit of structure.

Step 1: Pick an Emerging Market

Choose something new, fast-growing, and exciting. This could be:

• AI in healthcare
• Plant-based protein
• Smart wearables
• Sustainable fashion
• Edtech for rural India
• Drone delivery systems

Don’t aim for perfection — aim for passion.

Step 2: Turn Curiosity into a Research Question

Instead of saying “I’ll study AR/VR,” try:

“How is AR/VR changing virtual collaboration in remote workplaces?”

Use ChatGPT to refine your topic:

“Give me 5 research questions about sustainable packaging in India.”

This step gives your project direction — and it’s where most people fall short.
You won’t.

Step 3: Use AI Tools to Collect & Structure Insights

Perplexity

Ask for a market overview:

“What’s the current state of EV infrastructure in Southeast Asia?”
It’ll give you stats + citations you can trust.

Feedly

Follow niche blogs, journals, and reports.
Save 10 articles in a “Research Folder.”
You’ll spot patterns faster than 99% of students.

ChatGPT

Summarize what you’ve found:

“Summarize these 3 articles into a bullet-point market brief.”
Also ask:
“What are the top 3 challenges and 3 opportunities in [industry]?”

Elicit

Dig into academic-level insights. Ask:

“What’s the public perception of lab-grown meat in India?”
It pulls in verified studies, explains outcomes, and helps you write smarter.

Notion or Google Docs

Organize your findings like a consultant:

• Overview
• Trends
• Consumer Sentiment
• Competitor Landscape
• Opportunities
• Challenges
• Sources

Step 4: Turn Research Into a Rockstar Presentation

Use Canva or Google Slides. Keep it clean, visual, and to the point.

Slide ideas

• Title (Your Name + Topic)
• Why This Market?
• Market Landscape
• Trends & Opportunities (use AI-generated infographics)
• Key Competitors
• Challenges to Watch
• Conclusion (your key takeaways)
• References (yes, you’re a pro now)

If you’re posting it online, wrap it with a caption like:

“Used 5 AI tools to research and present the future of EV infrastructure in Asia. Here’s what I found”

Why This Project Matters

This isn’t just another school project.
It’s training for real-world problem solving.
You learn how to:

• Think like a researcher
• Work like a strategist
• Present like a consultant

And the best part? You’re using free AI tools to do work that would’ve taken others 10x the time.