What began as a single partnership between Perplexity AI and Airtel has now triggered an all-out race among global tech giants to win over Indian users. Within weeks, OpenAI and Google have followed suit — turning India into the world’s hottest AI battleground.
Perplexity Set the Stage with Airtel Partnership
The race began when Perplexity AI, the fast-rising AI search startup, announced its partnership with Airtel, offering the Perplexity Pro plan free to Airtel users across India.
The plan gives subscribers access to premium features such as ad-free AI search, instant summaries, real-time web browsing, and document assistance — all integrated into the Airtel app ecosystem.
The collaboration gave Perplexity an instant boost. With Airtel’s 380 million-plus user base, Perplexity gained a massive entry into Indian households almost overnight. The strategy was clear: reach the masses first, before competitors could catch up.
ChatGPT Fires Back with a Nationwide Free Plan
Not long after Perplexity’s move, OpenAI fired back with a blockbuster announcement — making its mid-tier ChatGPT Go plan free for all users in India for a full 12 months starting November 4, 2025.
The plan, normally priced at ₹399 per month, brings premium features like image generation, file uploads, extended memory, faster response times, and higher usage limits — all available free to both new and existing users.
By eliminating the subscription cost, OpenAI is signaling its intent to dominate India’s rapidly growing AI landscape. The company is betting that early adoption will translate into long-term user loyalty, especially as more Indians turn to AI for education, business, and creativity.
Industry insiders say this move mirrors the early telecom wars, when data packs and free calling plans were used to attract users — except this time, it’s AI access that’s being given away.
Now Gemini Joins the Party with Jio
Rounding out the trio, Google’s Gemini AI has joined the party — offering Gemini AI Pro free for Jio users for a limited time. The deal extends Google’s long-standing partnership with Jio, giving millions of subscribers access to advanced generative tools for text, images, and code creation.
By teaming up with India’s largest telecom operator, Google is ensuring Gemini stays relevant in the conversation — and directly competes with OpenAI and Perplexity in the same market segment.
Gemini AI Pro’s integration with Jio apps also means users can access AI features seamlessly without needing to install standalone tools — an approach that plays to Google’s ecosystem strength.
India: The Epicenter of the Global AI Race
India’s 1.4 billion-strong population and expanding digital footprint have made it the most attractive market for AI platforms. Over 850 million people are now online, with one of the highest daily engagement rates globally.
For AI firms, India offers scale, language diversity, and data richness — making it both a business opportunity and a training ground for future AI development.
This explains why three of the world’s biggest AI players — Perplexity, OpenAI, and Google — are rushing in almost simultaneously. What used to be a race for models has turned into a race for users.
AI’s ‘Free Tier’ War Has Begun
Each company is deploying a distinct strategy:
- Perplexity is relying on telecom partnerships to expand reach.
- OpenAI is using long-term free access to build loyalty.
- Google is embedding Gemini into everyday digital habits through Jio’s ecosystem.
For Indian consumers, this competition translates into a clear win — access to top-tier AI tools without paying a single rupee. Students, freelancers, content creators, and small businesses are expected to benefit most, using these platforms to speed up research, productivity, and creativity.
However, experts warn that these “AI giveaways” are not entirely altruistic. The long-term goal is to secure user behavior data, improve local model performance, and create dependency before future monetization.
Still, for now, Indian users are enjoying a once-in-a-decade moment — the world’s best AI tools, all going free at the same time.
Conclusion
What started with Perplexity’s Airtel partnership has turned into a full-blown AI gold rush in India. OpenAI’s ChatGPT Go and Google’s Gemini AI Pro have now joined the race, transforming India into the center of global AI attention.
The next few months will decide not just which company dominates, but also how India shapes the future of artificial intelligence — as the world’s largest and most dynamic digital market.
