Perplexity AI vs Google: Which Platform Will Indians Choose?

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a distant future; it is the present, actively shaping industries, including education and research. India has also been adopting AI to stay relevant amid the rapid changes in technology. For years, the world has relied on Google, the largest search engine, accounting for over 90 per cent of global search traffic. Its dominance has reduced competitors like Yahoo and Bing to a minority.

However, the game changed when OpenAI launched ChatGPT, an AI-powered chatbot capable of answering almost any query. This breakthrough spurred the development of AI-based search engines, including Perplexity AI.

Perplexity AI has quickly emerged as a serious rival to Google. It has spread like wildfire across the internet, with many users already replacing Google with Perplexity for their search operations.

A recent meeting between Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked debates about AI adoption in India. 

So, what exactly is Perplexity AI?

As the name suggests, Perplexity AI is a search engine that uses AI powers to give the correct and clear results to end users. Unlike Google, which relies on algorithms to rank websites and generate search results, Perplexity AI employs natural language processing (NLP) to provide direct, contextual answers. Check the example below to understand better.

Unlike Google where you have to go through multiple links to find an answer, Perplexity collects data from such websites and gives you the answers that it finds most accurate and well-researched.

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Perplexity offers free pro subscription to India's students

India is already preparing for a digital transformation in education. Starting January 2025, the Government of India will roll out the One Nation One Subscription (ONOS) scheme, offering over one crore eight lakh students and faculty free access to more than 13,400 journals from thirty publishers at a cost of INR 6,000 crore for three years.

This initiative aims to bridge the gap between well-funded institutions and smaller colleges or universities to ensure wider access to information.

If @narendramodi ji is interested, I would be down to figuring out an economic structure where all Indian students, faculty and researchers can get Perplexity Pro. https://t.co/j1KBTJBEvj

— Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) December 8, 2024

On December 8, Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, tweeted an offer to provide the Perplexity AI Pro version for free to Indian students, researchers, and faculty as part of this initiative. Later, on December 28, he shared a photo with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with both parties discussing how AI tools could help Indian students and researchers. The Prime Minister also responded, praising Perplexity’s work.

Had the honor to meet Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. We had a great conversation about the potential for AI adoption in India and across the world. Really inspired by Modi Ji’s dedication to stay updated on the topic and his remarkable vision for the future. pic.twitter.com/KLC9eZV63C

— Aravind Srinivas (@AravSrinivas) December 28, 2024

While it is still unclear whether the two discussed offering Perplexity AI Pro for free, such a move could mark a major shift in India’s approach to education and research. It might even redefine the country’s traditional education system.

Should Google be scared?

This meeting has raised eyebrows, not just for its impact on India’s academic landscape but also for its potential ripple effect on tech giants like Google. Perplexity AI’s emergence as an alternative to Google’s traditional search model raises an important question:

Could this AI tool redefine web search as we know it?

Google has dominated web search for over two decades, monetising search through ads while offering free access to information.

In contrast, Perplexity AI prioritises direct answers instead of displaying ads and SEO-optimised content. This eliminates distractions and reduces time spent filtering irrelevant or spammy information.

Moreover, the growing emphasis on AI and chat-based search platforms suggests a larger shift in user preferences. Google’s recent attempts to integrate AI through Gemini underscore its awareness of this shift. 

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What could the future of search look like?

Traditional search engines, including Google, rely heavily on ranking algorithms that prioritise popularity and keyword relevance. While effective, this model is prone to manipulation through SEO strategies.

AI-driven platforms like Perplexity AI, however, use machine learning to understand context and intent. Rather than ranking pages, they generate answers by parsing verified data sources. Perplexity AI is clearly aiming to grow its market share, and if the Indian government supports its proposal, its monthly active users could see a significant spike, posing a serious challenge to Google.

However, this also raises broader questions about privacy, data security and the ethical use of AI in education.

Google’s response to these developments will be worth watching. While it remains the dominant player, the rise of AI-focused alternatives like Perplexity could force it to innovate further.

In conclusion, the battle for dominance in search engines is heating up. Whether Perplexity AI can truly dethrone Google remains to be seen, but one thing is clear, AI is here to change the way we study. 

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