Airtel has partnered with Perplexity, an AI-powered search and answer engine, to offer a free 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro to all 360 million of its customers (Mobile, Wi-Fi, and DTH). This marks Perplexity’s first collaboration with an Indian telecom company.

What is included in the free Perplexity Pro subscription?

The Perplexity Pro subscription, normally valued at ₹17,000 per year, offers enhanced capabilities beyond the free version. These include more daily “Pro searches,” access to advanced AI models like GPT 4.1 and Claude, the ability to choose specific AI models, deep research tools, image generation, file upload and analysis features, and access to Perplexity Labs.

How can Airtel customers avail this free offer?

All Airtel customers, regardless of whether they are mobile, Wi-Fi, or DTH subscribers, can redeem this offer by logging onto the Airtel Thanks App.

What are the key benefits of Perplexity Pro for users?

Perplexity Pro provides real-time, accurate, and deeply researched responses in a conversational language. It transforms traditional web searches into easy-to-read answers that can be refined with the self-learning AI. The Pro version specifically enhances this by offering advanced AI models and tools for more in-depth research, content creation, and analysis.

What is the strategic significance of this partnership for Airtel and Perplexity?

For Airtel, this collaboration is a “first-of-its-kind Gen-AI partnership in India” aimed at helping its customers confidently navigate the digital world by providing a powerful, real-time knowledge tool at no extra cost. For Perplexity, it’s an exciting opportunity to make “accurate, trustworthy, and professional-grade AI accessible to more people in India,” including students, working professionals, and homemakers.

How can Perplexity Pro benefit different types of users?

The service aims to cater to a wide range of users. For a student, it can facilitate legitimate research, learning, and content organization to uphold academic standards. For a homemaker, it can act as an assistant for daily activities, fostering creativity and informed decision-making. For a busy professional, it can quickly build detailed itineraries based on specific criteria like time, budget, and desired activities.

What distinguishes Perplexity’s AI-powered search from traditional search engines?

Unlike traditional search engines that primarily list web pages, Perplexity provides direct, easy-to-read answers in a conversational language. It performs real-time, accurate, and deeply researched responses that can be iterated and refined by the user for precise outcomes.

When was this partnership announced and when did it become effective?

The partnership was announced on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Perplexity Pro subscription is now available for free to all Airtel customers.

(This explainer has been generated using artificial intelligence from the original article by the writer; and reviewed by a journalist)

Published on July 17, 2025