Airtel is giving away Perplexity Pro (usually ₹17,000) to all its users – a big move to get AI to everyone.
Airtel just announced a big partnership: It's giving all 360 million of its users a free year of Perplexity Pro, which is a smart search and answer thing powered by AI. This usually costs ₹17,000 a year, but Airtel is giving it away free to all their mobile, broadband, and DTH customers in India.
This is Airtel's first time working with Perplexity AI. It's also the first time an Indian phone company has partnered up to give premium AI tools to so many users. Seems likely to get more people in the country using and knowing about these AI services.
So, instead of giving you a bunch of links like normal search engines, Perplexity AI gives you direct answers that are well-researched and feel like a conversation – plus, it tells you where it got the info. The idea is to save you time by not making you click through a bunch of websites. Think of it like having a research assistant in your pocket.
The fancy version of Perplexity gives you some great extras. You can do more AI-powered searches every day and use variety of AI models like GPT-4.1, Claude 4, and Gemini. This means you can adjust your searches based on how hard they are or what they're about. You can also upload documents to get a quick summary, have AI make images, and even build simple dashboards or research structures.
A cool thing about the Pro plan is **Perplexity Labs**. There, you can make web apps, spreadsheets, or project outlines without knowing any code. It’s perfect for students, professionals, and creators.
According to Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, he mentioned that the partnership is a first-of-its-kind Gen-AI partnership in India. Further, he expressed that the major goal is about giving customers assurance, by enabling them with a reliable knowledge tool.
Aravind Srinivas, the Co-founder and CEO of Perplexity, mentioned his excitement about bringing dependable and professional AI to more folks in India, either if people are studying, working, or just handling daily life.
How to Claim Perplexity Pro for Free
If you're an Airtel user, just open or download the Airtel Thanks App and log in with your phone number. You should see a Perplexity Pro special offer on the main screen, or just go to the Rewards or OTTs area. Press on the offer and tap Claim Now. Then, you'll go to Perplexity’s site, where you can log in or sign up with your email.
Once you verify your account with the code they send to your email, your subscription gets upgraded to Pro automatically. Then, you can start using Perplexity on your phone and computer for a full year – totally free.
This offer is around until January 17, 2026, so you've got plenty of time to get it.
Why This Is a Big Deal for AI in India
This partnership shows that phone companies in India are changing how they give value to their users. Most companies have been offering subscriptions with services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+ Hotstar, but Airtel is now changing course by including AI services.
By giving free access to tools like Perplexity Pro, Airtel isn't just making things better for users – they're helping bring AI into the lives of millions. Whether it's students, professionals, business owners, or families, this gets AI closer to everyone.
This could also push other telecom companies to try similar AI collaborations, which could speed up how quickly India adopts AI and changes digitally.
In a country where getting information fast and accurately is super important, this could really change how people use tech.
