Bharti Airtel, one of India’s largest telecom operators, has announced a strategic partnership with AI-powered search engine Perplexity, making advanced AI tools accessible to its large user base. As part of the deal, all Airtel users—including mobile, broadband, and DTH subscribers—will get 12 months of free access to Perplexity Pro, a premium service that typically costs ₹17,000 annually.
The subscription will be accessible through the Airtel Thanks app, making this collaboration Perplexity’s first official partnership with an Indian telecom provider.
According to the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Bharti Airtel currently has over 390 million users across India, second only to Reliance Jio. With such a vast and engaged customer base, this partnership is expected to massively scale the adoption of AI-powered search across diverse demographics—from students and professionals to households and entrepreneurs.
Speaking on the partnership, Gopal Vittal, Vice Chairman and Managing Director of Bharti Airtel, said:
“We’re thrilled to announce a game-changing partnership with Perplexity, bringing their cutting-edge AI capabilities exclusively for Airtel customers. This first-of-its-kind Gen-AI partnership in India will help our customers navigate the digital world with greater confidence and ease.”
Perplexity is a next-generation AI search and answer engine that offers real-time, conversational responses instead of the standard list of search results. Designed for clarity, accuracy, and efficiency, the platform aims to simplify how users find and interact with information.
The Pro version of Perplexity enhances the experience by offering:
Access to advanced AI models like GPT-4.1, Claude, and Sonar
Deep research tools with cited sources
Image generation features
File upload and analysis
Perplexity Labs, where users can brainstorm and develop ideas
Airtel users can now access these advanced tools at no additional cost for an entire year, making AI more inclusive and mainstream.
The Airtel collaboration comes shortly after Perplexity’s global partnership with Motorola, announced in April 2025. Under that agreement, Perplexity Pro comes pre-installed on millions of Motorola smartphones worldwide, including the newly launched Razr and Edge 60 series.
Motorola users also enjoy three months of free Perplexity Pro, gaining access to:
Deep AI-powered research tools
Multiple AI model choices like GPT-4o, Claude 3.5 Sonnet, and Sonar
Unlimited file uploads
AI-enhanced shopping tools
This shows that Perplexity is positioning itself not only as a search engine alternative but as a comprehensive AI productivity tool.
According to a recent Bloomberg report, Perplexity is now in advanced talks with Samsung for a wide-ranging integration deal. The proposed collaboration could include:
Preloading Perplexity’s app on Samsung smartphones
Integrating AI search features into Samsung Internet browser
Embedding Perplexity’s technology into the Bixby virtual assistant
Sources have indicated that this integration may be ready as early as the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, expected to launch in 2026. Additionally, Samsung is rumored to become a key investor in Perplexity’s upcoming funding round, which aims to raise $500 million at a $14 billion valuation.
With partnerships across telecom and smartphone ecosystems, Perplexity is building a strong distribution network. Its goal appears to be clear: make professional-grade AI tools available to everyone, not just tech-savvy users or enterprises.
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas said:
“This partnership is an exciting way to make accurate, trustworthy 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 and get more done.”