In a strategic move to capture the vast Indian market, several artificial intelligence companies are rolling out competitive plans and promotions. Yet these initiatives directly aim at the world’s most congested population. Over on the production side, the demand for AI technology is absolutely booming. Specifically, Google, OpenAI and Perplexity have released multiple products specifically tailored to lure Indian users.
OpenAI has, of course, gone to similar lengths to curry favor with Indian users. The company rolled out a ChatGPT Go plan as a sub-$5 option back in August. OpenAI is subsidizing this plan and offering it free for the first year. This offer is available to both current Go plan subscribers and new users in India. This largely collaborative approach would be a positive signal of OpenAI’s commitment to diversifying its users and their purposes in the region.
Perplexity has offered a slightly different route, going into business together with telecommunications supplier Airtel. The partnership introduces Perplexity’s Pro plan free for one year to Airtel customers. This ambitious move immediately puts Perplexity in the running with OpenAI as a powerful contender. It takes advantage of Airtel’s deep customer base to efficiently target new users.
These joint ventures are the first sign of a wider trend as AI companies try to find a way into the Indian market. With a population larger than 1.4 billion, India is a larger and potentially even more attractive frontier for tech adoption growth. Those recent promotions are designed to attract users who are reluctant to spend money on AI-powered services. We want to provide them an opportunity to test drive the technology before fully committing.
Perplexity’s leadership considers India to be an important strategic ally in its race against OpenAI. The company’s leadership understands that once a user base in India is developed, it will have enormous leverage in trying to open the market worldwide. This perspective aligns with the overall trend of AI firms aggressively pursuing user acquisition through innovative pricing models and free trials.