What’s the Offer?
On July 17, 2025, Bharti Airtel launched a landmark offer: 360 million users—including prepaid, postpaid, broadband, and DTH subscribers—can now claim a free 12‑month subscription to Perplexity Pro (valued at ₹17,000). This marks Perplexity’s first full-year partnership with an Indian telecom giant (Airtel).
What You Get with Perplexity Pro
Perplexity Pro is a premium AI‑powered search platform designed for professionals, researchers, and power users, offering:
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Unlimited daily Pro searches (up to 300/day)
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Access to advanced LLMs: GPT‑4.1, Claude 4.0, xAI’s Grok, Sonar
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Model‑select option for tailored responses
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Deep‑research tools and Perplexity Labs
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File/document upload for automated analysis
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AI-generated images (e.g., DALL·E)
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Priority support (The Indian Express, mint, Airtel)
How to Activate
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Open Airtel Thanks app.
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Navigate to Rewards & OTTs.
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Tap the Perplexity Pro banner → “Claim Now”.
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Enter your email + OTP → receive a redemption code.
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Log into Perplexity (web/app) → enter the code → enjoy 12 months free (mint, DesignZig).
Offer valid through January 17, 2026 (DesignZig).
Why This Matters
📌 For Users: Pro‑grade AI at Zero Cost
Whether you're a student, freelancer, or executive, this transforms routine searches into deep insights, answers, images, and files analysed—without subscription fees .
📞 For Airtel: Standout Value
Amid stiff competition with Jio, Airtel’s AI tie-up enhances retention and delivers a tangible edge—AI as a telco service.
🌐 For Perplexity: Market Reach
Access to 360 million users accelerates Perplexity’s footprint in India and positions it as a dominant enterprise-class AI tool.
Challenges on the Horizon
⚖️ Legal & Ethical Risks
Perplexity faces multiple copyright lawsuits from legacy media:
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Reuters reports legal threats from BBC over alleged scraping (The Economic Times, Reuters)
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Dow Jones and NY Post sued for “massive illegal copying” (National Law Review)
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NYT, Forbes, Wired also issued cease‑and‑desist notices
These raise concerns around content accuracy, licensing models, and news funneling through AI summarizers (tomsguide.com).
🛡️ Data Privacy & Trust
Redemption requires users to share email addresses and link accounts. Airtel must ensure user data is handled transparently and securely, given rising scrutiny on AI data privacy.
Strategic Takeaways
Benefit | Risk |
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Pro AI access for millions, no cost | Media lawsuits may impact credibility |
Airtel gains a standout value offering | User trust depends on data governance, licensing |
Perplexity gains massive reach | Scaling could be slowed by legal/regulatory headwinds |
Final Thoughts
Airtel's free 12‑month Perplexity Pro is a bold, forward-thinking move—integrating AI deeply into telecom services and democratizing access to advanced AI tools. 📈 Yet success hinges on navigating legal challenges and maintaining trust, while competitors like Jio may seek to respond with their own AI-driven perks.
Want to Claim It?
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Check Airtel Thanks app → Rewards & OTTs → tap Perplexity Pro
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Offer open until January 17, 2026 (DesignZig, Airtel, tomsguide.com)
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