return_citations deprecated, need mechanism to disable citation numerical references in response content

[damianoneill]

Since https://docs.perplexity.ai/changelog/changelog#citations-public-release-and-increased-default-rate-limits disables the ability to set return_citations to false.

Given response content, that looks like

"choices": [
    {
      "index": 0,
      "finish_reason": "stop",
      "message": {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "IS-IS (Intermediate System to Intermediate System) is an interior gateway protocol (IGP) that uses link-state information to make routing decisions. Here are the key points about IS-IS:\n\n1. **Link-State Protocol**: IS-IS is a link-state protocol that uses the shortest-path-first (SPF) algorithm to determine routes. It evaluates network topology changes and determines whether to perform a full SPF recalculation or a partial route calculation (PRC) based on the changes[1][2][3].\n\n2. **Routing Levels**: IS-IS organizes routing hierarchically by dividing a single autonomous system (AS) into smaller groups called areas. This is achieved by configuring Level 1 and Level 2 intermediate systems. Level 1 systems route within an area, while Level 2 systems route between areas and towards other ASs[1][2][3].\n\n3. **Network Addresses**: IS-IS uses ISO network addresses, specifically Network Service Access Points (NSAPs), to identify points of connection to the network. Each NSAP represents a service available at a node, and a single node can belong to multiple areas[1][3].\n\n4. **PDU Types**: IS-IS uses various PDUs (Protocol Data Units) to exchange protocol information, including IS-IS hello (IIH) PDUs, which are used to discover neighboring IS-IS systems and establish adjacencies[1][3].\n\n5. **Configuration**: To configure IS-IS, you must enable IS-IS on the interfaces and configure a NET address, preferably on the lo0 interface. The NET address is created by following a specific convention based on the router ID and area number[5].\n\n6. **Layer 2 Mapping**: IS-IS is a Layer 2 protocol that uses Ethernet logical link control (LLC) encapsulation format for exchanging information. It ensures that forwarding next-hop resolution is topology-driven, minimizing traffic loss when an Ethernet link is activated[4]."
      },
      "delta": {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": ""
      }
    }
  ]

A mechanism is needed to remove the citation numerical references, e.g. [1][2][3], from the content for API users who choose not to expose the citation array.

These references become meaningless without the corresponding citations array.

Some use cases (like direct content display) benefit from clean text without reference markers.

For example:

"return_citations_numerical_references": false

Default value: true (maintains backward compatibility)

[nirbhaysinghnarang]

bump!

[mtravers]

I'm having the opposite problem – I want the numerical references but they aren't showing up, despite the citations being returned. Adding to the prompt "Please include numerical citation references in the response" helps, but seems like this should be under control more.

[mtravers]

Actually that doesn't work so well, the numbers inserted don't actually correspond to entries in the citations list (AFAICT)

[moog500nl]

Bump, bump!