Bharti Airtel has announced a partnership with Perplexity, an AI-powered search and answer engine, to offer a free 12-month subscription to Perplexity Pro — valued at ₹17,000 — to its entire base of 360 million customers across mobile, broadband, and DTH services in India.

This AI partnership by an Indian telecom company gives Airtel users access to advanced AI tools through the Airtel Thanks App, helping them leverage cutting-edge generative AI technology for productivity, learning, and everyday tasks.
Perplexity Pro delivers real-time and conversational answers powered by leading AI models like GPT-4.1 and Claude. Users benefit from deeper research capabilities, image generation, file uploads and analysis, and access to Perplexity Labs, a creative sandbox for AI experimentation.
Gopal Vittal, MD & Vice Chairman of Bharti Airtel, said the collaboration aims to “help customers navigate the emerging trends in the digital world with confidence and ease.”
Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas added that the offer will empower Indian users across demographics —students, professionals, and homemakers— to learn faster, solve problems, and boost productivity.
The offer is now live and available exclusively via the Airtel Thanks App.
AI at Airtel
Airtel has been actively investing in artificial intelligence across its operations, including the use of AI-powered analytics to enhance network optimization, reduce churn, and improve service quality.
Airtel’s customer service leverages AI-driven chatbots and voice assistants to provide instant support and reduce response times.
The telecom major is also deploying AI for predictive maintenance in its network infrastructure to ensure high availability and performance.
In its enterprise segment, Airtel is incorporating AI tools into its cloud and cybersecurity services offered through Airtel IQ and Nxtra Data Centers, helping businesses with smarter communications and secure operations.
Airtel is exploring AI-driven personalization engines for content recommendations on its DTH and digital entertainment platforms.
These initiatives align with Airtel’s vision to become a digital services leader, using AI to transform user engagement, operational efficiency, and overall service delivery.
TelecomLead.com News Desk