Cashing In on Airtel’s Subscriber Base: How Perplexity AI Reached the Top of the App Store
In a remarkable turn of events, Perplexity AI, led by Aravind Srinivas, has overtaken giants like ChatGPT to secure the top position among free apps on the Apple App Store. This sudden surge in popularity can be attributed to a strategic partnership with telecom operator Airtel, which is now offering its customers free access to the Perplexity Pro subscription valued at ₹17,000 annually.
Exclusive Offerings for Users
Beyond free access to its premium features, Perplexity is granting its non-paying users early access to the exclusive Comet browser, which is currently available only through a limited invite system.
Why the Perplexity-Airtel Partnership is a Game Changer
The collaboration between Perplexity and Airtel has proved especially appealing for a broad demographic, spanning from school and college students to researchers and working professionals. Unlike Google’s Gemini Pro, which primarily targets students, the Perplexity-Airtel alliance offers a more inclusive solution.
Revolutionizing Search with Contextual Insights
Perplexity Pro utilizes advanced models like GPT-4.1 and Claude to provide real-time, structured answers, thereby replacing traditional search results with contextual, citation-based insights. This evolution offers users the ability to upload documents, engage in follow-up questions, and summarize complex information within a single interface.
A Digital Assistant for Students
For students facing research deadlines or preparing for exams, Perplexity Pro serves as a digital assistant, simplifying dense academic material and generating organized responses from trusted sources.
Tools for Professionals
Professionals in fields such as consulting, design, and law can leverage Perplexity Pro to extract insights from reports, draft content, and generate visuals. The Pro version includes additional tools like Perplexity Labs, focusing on image generation and coding support, making it versatile for various tasks.
ChatGPT’s Viral Moment
In a parallel trend, ChatGPT experienced a surge due to the Ghibli art trend, which captured viral attention in India. OpenAI reported that during this period, the platform gained one million users within an hour—an event CEO Sam Altman described as one of the “craziest viral moments” he has ever witnessed.
Comparative Popularity on Different Platforms
While Perplexity has taken the lead in the iOS app charts, ChatGPT continues to reign as the most popular app on the Google Play Store, where Perplexity has not yet made an appearance.
Financial Growth of Perplexity AI
Within just three years, the AI startup has seen its valuation soar to $18 billion, following a fresh capital raise of $100 million. This deal extended a previous round of financing that valued the company at $14 billion.
Market Interest and Potential Acquisitions
Perplexity’s rise has attracted attention from major tech firms like Apple and Meta Platforms, with reports indicating that executives at Apple have discussed making an offer for the company to enhance their AI capabilities.
The Competitive Landscape
Currently, major players like OpenAI and Anthropic dominate the AI landscape, raising a combined total of $81 billion in venture capital. This is more than half of the total $142.45 billion raised by companies featured in this year’s AI 50 list, according to Forbes.
Srinivas’s Vision Amidst Competition
Despite the formidable competition, Srinivas remains confident in his product. He acknowledges that OpenAI is exceptionally well-funded but emphasizes a different focus for Perplexity.
Focusing on Innovation
Srinivas suggests that rather than direct competition with ChatGPT, which he considers their most successful consumer product, Perplexity will concentrate on the browser space, believing that the Comet browser can become an abstraction layer above chatbots.
The Future of AI Assistants
With AI rapidly evolving, Perplexity’s unique approach and inclusive offerings may well position it as a major player in the space traditionally dominated by more established entities.
Conclusion
As the AI landscape becomes increasingly competitive, Perplexity AI’s partnerships and innovations may provide the necessary edge to thrive. By catering to a diverse user base and redefining how information is accessed and utilized, it is paving the way for an exciting future in AI-assisted technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Perplexity AI?
Perplexity AI is a digital assistant platform that offers real-time, structured answers using advanced AI models like GPT-4.1 and Claude.
2. How does the Airtel partnership work?
Through this partnership, Airtel customers receive free access to Perplexity Pro, which normally costs ₹17,000 annually.
3. What features does Perplexity Pro offer?
Perplexity Pro provides citation-based insights, document uploading, follow-up questions, and tools for generating images and coding support.
4. How does Perplexity compare with ChatGPT?
While ChatGPT is currently the leading app on Google Play, Perplexity has topped the iOS App Store charts due to its unique offerings and partnerships.
5. What is the future outlook for Perplexity AI?
With strategic partnerships and a focus on innovative solutions, Perplexity AI aims to establish itself as a significant player in the AI landscape.
