Aravind Srinivas, a 31-year-old from India, is building one of the most talked-about AI tools today — Perplexity AI. This platform is quickly becoming a strong rival to ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini.
Perplexity was recently launched on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, where it quickly climbed the charts in the productivity section. The app offers a free trial of its Pro plan, which usually costs ₹7,000 per year. This has helped many people explore its features without paying first.
What makes Perplexity different is how it answers questions. It gives real-time, accurate answers along with proper sources. This helps users trust the information they receive. It’s not just a chatbot — it acts more like a smart search engine that talks back with proof. The platform also offers a Pro version that gives early access to more advanced tools, perfect for students, professionals, and researchers.
India’s Growing Role in Global AI
India’s artificial intelligence market is expanding rapidly. Experts say it could cross $5 billion by 2025. More Indians are now using AI tools for learning, work, and daily tasks. Perplexity’s easy design and trustworthy answers have made it especially popular in the country. While ChatGPT still leads in overall downloads, Perplexity is closing the gap fast.
The man behind Perplexity, Aravind Srinivas, has a strong background. He previously worked at Google and OpenAI and built the platform with a team that includes experts from Meta, DeepMind, and other major tech firms. Unlike other companies focused on general-purpose chatbots, Srinivas wants Perplexity to lead in the browser space — where people search, read, and learn.
Even though Perplexity is much smaller than companies like OpenAI and Anthropic, it’s standing out. Instead of trying to do everything, it focuses on one simple goal: giving fast, clear answers backed by sources. Srinivas believes that with the right focus, a small team can still beat the giants — and Perplexity might just prove him right.
