In India, there are two things people will never say no to: a good gossip session and a freebie. Airtel seems to know that very well. Its latest freebie is causing a stir in India -- a free Perplexity Pro subscription worth Rs 17,000 a year, now available to 360 million Airtel users. The app has already climbed to the number one spot on the App Store in India. But the real question is, can free Perplexity actually win Indian hearts or will it just be another download gathering digital dust?
Let’s be honest, until Airtel threw it into the spotlight, half the users perhaps didn’t even know Perplexity existed. ChatGPT, though? It is already a household name. It is the go-to AI for everything from solving work problems to deciding which outfit looks better for a date night. People talk to ChatGPT like it’s their wise friend, motivational coach, and part-time therapist all rolled into one. It doesn’t just give answers, it actually talks back like it cares.
Perplexity, on the other hand, has the social skills of a PDF file. Sure, it is lightning fast, throws citations at you, and can summarise ten news articles in seconds. But if you are expecting a fun chat, witty banter, or even a half-decent vibe check, you are going to be disappointed. It is basically the nerdy classmate who knows everything but just doesn’t get people.
And this is exactly why Perplexity might have a problem in India. People here love talking. They love warmth in conversations, a little back and forth, a bit of “beta khana khaya” energy. ChatGPT, even with its quirks, offers that personal touch. People talk to it when they are bored, anxious, or just need someone to hype them up before a meeting.
Perplexity, despite being the shiny new freebie, feels cold and transactional. It might be helpful, but it is hardly the kind of AI you would want to spend your lunch break with. Sure, it is perfect for when you need a crisp summary or quick facts, but where’s the fun in that?
Of course, the Airtel deal is clever. Indians love free trials and cashback more than their morning chai. Perplexity will definitely enjoy a massive spike in downloads and a few weeks of fame. But getting people to stay loyal? That is where things get tricky.
Remember Clubhouse? Everyone and their uncle had it downloaded during the pandemic, but no one talks about it anymore. Free hype fades quickly when people don’t feel a connection. ChatGPT managed to escape that fate because it became part of people’s daily lives. It feels like a helpful buddy, not just a machine spitting out answers.
Perplexity’s challenge is simple. Being free gets people to try you once. Staying useful and likeable gets them to come back every day. If it wants to stick around, it has to go beyond dumping facts and start holding conversations. Right now, it is the AI version of a boring Zoom call, while ChatGPT is the WhatsApp group that never gets muted.
To be fair, Perplexity is a solid tool. Students will love the clean citations, researchers will appreciate the quick summaries, and journalists will use it to save time. But regular folks who like a little personality in their apps? They might not be so easily swayed.
In the end, Indians don’t just want answers. They want interaction, emotion, and maybe a few jokes thrown in. Perplexity can grab attention with a free subscription, but if it keeps sounding like Google Search in fancy clothes, people will happily go back to ChatGPT, even if it means paying for it.
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