Perplexity.ai has dismissed allegations that Airtel customers in India are receiving a downgraded version of its premium subscription, Perplexity Pro, under the telecom company’s bundled 5G plan.
The company’s statement follows accusations that Airtel’s free Perplexity Pro offer is a “Pro-Lite” version. Internet posts, which gained significant traction, alleged that Airtel-linked accounts performed slower, omitted charts, skipped citations, and sometimes provided less detailed responses compared to both paid Pro and even the free version of the tool.
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Viral Claims and Company Response
According to the posts, these performance differences suggested Airtel customers were receiving an inferior product despite the branding. The authors concluded that the offer was “more like Pro-Lite than Pro,” fueling speculation and frustration among some Indian users.
In response, Perplexity.ai issued a firm denial. Jesse Dwyer, representing the company, stated: “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 pointed out that misinformation about Perplexity frequently circulates online, often amplified by individuals seeking social media engagement.
Same Features for All Pro Users
The company reaffirmed that Airtel subscribers enjoy identical benefits to those of paying Perplexity Pro customers. These include access to advanced AI models, file uploads, image generation, and other premium functionalities.
Airtel currently offers Perplexity Pro as part of its 5G plan at no extra cost, promoting it as a key benefit of its partnership with the AI firm. The subscription is valued at ₹17,000 annually and has been marketed as a major attraction for high-speed data customers.
While the Internet posts sparked doubts, Perplexity’s official stance is that there is no variation in service quality or tools provided under the Airtel offer. The company’s clarification aims to reassure both Airtel users and the broader Indian market that they are receiving the full Perplexity Pro experience.