Perplexity.ai has refuted allegations that Airtel customers in India receive a reduced version of its premium subscription under the free Perplexity Pro offer. The controversy began after a Reddit post, which went viral with hundreds of upvotes, claimed that Airtel-linked accounts were slower, lacked chart displays, skipped citations, and occasionally delivered less insightful answers.
The post described the experience as a “Pro-Lite” version, suggesting it was inferior to both the free and paid Pro plans available to other users.
Official Response from Perplexity.ai
Addressing the claims, Jesse Dwyer from Perplexity.ai told Financial Express:
“It is absolutely false that Airtel customers get a different version of Perplexity Pro than our Pro subscribers. India is very dear to us as a company and we would hope to correct this misunderstanding for Indian readers.”
Dwyer also highlighted that misinformation about Perplexity frequently circulates online, often used by individuals to grow their social media presence.
Assurances of Full Pro Access
Perplexity stressed that Airtel users enjoy the exact same benefits as paying Pro subscribers. These include:
- Access to advanced AI models
- File uploads for AI processing
- Image generation tools
- Other premium features without restrictions
The company clarified that no service quality downgrade or feature limitation exists for Airtel-linked accounts.
Airtel–Perplexity Partnership
Airtel bundles the Perplexity Pro subscription, valued at ₹17,000 annually, with its 5G plan at no extra cost. This AI-powered perk is positioned as one of the key highlights of Airtel’s premium offerings, aimed at boosting adoption of both its high-speed network and advanced AI tools.
Company’s Reassurance to Users
While the Reddit post ignited online debates and led some to question the authenticity of the bundled service, Perplexity’s firm denial is meant to restore confidence among Indian users. The company reiterated that Airtel customers receive the complete Perplexity Pro experience, identical to that enjoyed by global paying subscribers.
With this clarification, Perplexity aims to put an end to speculation and ensure users understand the full value of the Airtel partnership.
