TLDR: Bharti Airtel has announced a strategic partnership with Perplexity, an AI-powered search and answer engine, to provide a complimentary 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro for all its 360 million customers across India. This unprecedented collaboration, valued at INR 17,000 per year, marks Perplexity’s inaugural tie-up with an Indian telecom operator and is the first instance of an Indian telco bundling a premium AI chatbot subscription.
New Delhi, July 17, 2025 – In a significant move set to democratize access to advanced artificial intelligence, Bharti Airtel, India’s leading telecommunications provider, has forged a groundbreaking partnership with Perplexity, a cutting-edge AI-powered search and answer engine. This collaboration will grant all 360 million Airtel customers across mobile, Wi-Fi, and DTH services a free 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro, a premium service typically valued at INR 17,000 annually.
Perplexity distinguishes itself from traditional search engines by offering real-time, accurate, and deeply researched responses in a conversational language, rather than merely listing web pages. Its Pro version enhances this experience with a suite of advanced features designed for professionals and heavy users. These include a higher number of daily Pro searches (up to 300 per day), access to sophisticated AI models such as GPT 4.1 and Claude, the flexibility to select specific models, deep research capabilities, image generation, and the ability to upload and analyze files. Additionally, Perplexity Pro users gain access to Perplexity Labs, a unique tool aimed at bringing ideas to life.
Commenting on this landmark partnership, Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, stated, “We’re thrilled to announce a game-changing partnership with Perplexity, bringing their cutting-edge AI capabilities exclusively for Airtel customers. This collaboration will bring the powerful and real-time knowledge tool for millions of users at their fingertips, at no extra cost. This first of its kind Gen-AI partnership in India is focused on helping our customers navigate the emerging trends in the digital world with confidence and ease.”
Aravind Srinivas, Cofounder and CEO of Perplexity, echoed this sentiment, saying, “This partnership is an exciting way to make accurate, trustworthy, and professional-grade AI accessible to more people in India—whether a student, working professional, or managing a household. With Perplexity Pro, users get a smarter, easier way to find information, learn, and get more done.”
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To avail this exclusive offer, Airtel customers simply need to log in to their Airtel Thanks App, navigate to the ‘Rewards’ section, and tap on the designated banner. Upon clicking ‘Claim Now’, users will be guided to sign up or sign in to their Perplexity account, with no credit card or payment details required. This initiative marks Perplexity’s first partnership with an Indian telecom company and represents a pioneering step by an Indian network operator to bundle a premium AI chatbot subscription, setting a new precedent in digital service offerings.
