Perplexity denies Airtel users get downgraded AI search service

Perplexity, an AI-powered search engine company, has denied allegations that Airtel customers receive a downgraded version of its AI search tool, following viral social media claims suggesting the telecom partnership delivers inferior service. The company’s clarification comes as misinformation spreads on Reddit about the collaboration, which provides Indian users with free access to Perplexity Pro features worth Rs 17,000 annually.

What they’re saying: Jesse Dwyer from Perplexity.ai directly addressed the controversy, emphasizing the partnership’s authenticity.

• “Having worked personally with the Airtel team throughout this partnership, and also being familiar with the specific terms of this deal, I can assure you that it is absolutely false that Airtel customers get a different version of Perplexity Pro than our Pro subscribers,” Dwyer told Financial Express.
• “We are accustomed to misinformation about Perplexity online, and how some people on Reddit and X use misinformation about Perplexity in order to boost their follower counts, but India is very dear to us as a company and we would hope to be able to correct this misunderstanding for Indian readers.”

The controversy: A Reddit post gained hundreds of upvotes by claiming Airtel’s bundled Perplexity access underperformed compared to both paid and free versions.

• The post alleged slower response times, missing visual outputs like charts, absent citations, and less insightful results than the standard free version.
• The user concluded the offer failed to match regular Pro subscription performance, sparking widespread discussion about the partnership’s value.

What’s at stake: The Airtel partnership represents significant value for Indian subscribers seeking premium AI search capabilities.

• Airtel, one of India’s largest telecommunications companies, provides complimentary access to Perplexity Pro, valued at Rs 17,000 annually, including advanced model access, file uploads, and image generation.
• The deal includes all premium features available to paying Pro subscribers, according to Perplexity’s official response.

Why this matters: The misinformation campaign highlights how false claims can quickly damage legitimate partnerships in the competitive AI market, particularly as companies expand into price-sensitive markets like India where free premium access could significantly boost AI adoption.