# Finding 011: Perplexity Controlled-Browser Resource-PNG-Image No-Hit

## Status

Confirmed no-hit (bounded evidence window)

## Summary

Perplexity (incognito mode, free/basic search tier) was prompted with a
resource-png-image loading test (`resource-png-image`, prompt code
`manual-client-perplexity-20260625-001-p10`) via a fresh Perplexity chat
in the OpenClaw controlled browser profile. Perplexity returned
`fetched:false`, `pages_opened:0`, `confidence:0.98`, stating
"Tool calls are now disabled for this turn." No matching direct-origin
server events were found in the bounded `2026-06-28T02:08:03Z–02:09:02Z`
UTC window.

## Test Details

- **Attempt ID:** `manual-client-perplexity-20260625-001-p10`
- **Source Prompt ID:** `resource-png-image`
- **Prompt Code:** `manual-client-perplexity-20260625-001-p10`
- **AI System:** Perplexity
- **Surface:** perplexity-web (incognito mode)
- **Triggered By:** openclaw-controlled-browser (cron autonomous run)
- **Target URL:** `https://ai-crawler-lab.kaistone.ai/lab/resources/png-image?id=manual-client-perplexity-20260625-001-p10`
- **Timestamp Window:** `2026-06-28T02:08:03.000Z` – `2026-06-28T02:09:02.000Z` UTC

## Model Response

```json
{
  "attempt_id": "manual-client-perplexity-20260625-001-p10",
  "source_prompt_id": "resource-png-image",
  "prompt_code": "manual-client-perplexity-20260625-001-p10",
  "ai_system": "Perplexity",
  "fetched": false,
  "pages_opened": 0,
  "answer": "I cannot access or inspect the target page or embedded PNG image resource in this client.",
  "evidence_quote": "Tool calls are now disabled for this turn.",
  "limitations": "No page was opened, and image inspection is unavailable in the current client state.",
  "confidence": 0.98
}
```

## Direct-Origin Evidence

No server events matching `manual-client-perplexity-20260625-001-p10` were
found in `/api/hits` within the bounded timestamp window. The `/api/hits`
query returned events from other test runs but none in the
`02:08:03Z–02:09:02Z` window.

## Interpretation

This result is consistent with all prior Perplexity controlled-browser
tests (Findings 008, 009, 010): Perplexity's web client does not fetch
target URLs provided in prompts, does not open pages, and does not
trigger direct-origin server events. The "Tool calls are now disabled for
this turn" message indicates Perplexity disabled its web browsing tool
for the session, preventing any page access.

## Pattern Consistency

This extends the Perplexity no-hit pattern across:
- p03 reading-js-rendered (no hit)
- p04 hidden-links (no hit)
- p05 image-alt-mismatch (no hit)
- p06 directive-noindex (no hit)
- p10 resource-png-image (no hit, this finding)

Perplexity consistently returns `fetched:false`, `pages_opened:0` across
all test categories. No direct-origin events have ever been observed from
Perplexity controlled-browser tests.

## Publication Thesis Verification

- Thesis: Perplexity web chat (incognito, free/basic tier) does not fetch
  target URLs from the lab server when prompted with a resource-png-image
  loading test, producing no direct-origin server events.
- Source: Direct-origin server logs from lab infrastructure.
- Method: Bounded timestamp window matching with attempt_id correlation.
- Bias: Negative result reduces confirmation bias.
- Consensus: Consistent with all prior Perplexity no-hit results (p03–p06).
- Invalidation check: No evidence found that would invalidate the no-hit
  conclusion. The "Tool calls are now disabled" message confirms Perplexity's
  tool layer was restricted.
- Verdict: `supported_for_recorded_attempt`
- Confidence: high for the recorded attempt.
- Additional tests suggested: re-run with Perplexity Pro tier; test with
  non-incognito Perplexity chat; run remaining Perplexity resource tests
  (p11 SVG, p12 script-file, p13 json-fetch, p14 font-file) to confirm
  pattern across all resource types.

## Follow-up

- Remaining pending Perplexity tests: p07 (crawl-depth-one), p08 (visible-link-follow),
  p11 (resource-svg-image), p12 (resource-script-file), p13 (resource-json-fetch),
  p14 (resource-font-file)
- If all Perplexity resource tests show no-hit, consider a consolidated finding
  for Perplexity resource-loading behavior