A New Way to Search
Search engines have been the gateway to knowledge for decades. But in 2025, a new player is changing the game: Perplexity AI.
Unlike traditional search engines, Perplexity doesn’t just show you links. It reads, understands, summarises, and responds in real-time. Think of it as ChatGPT meets Google, but optimised for accuracy, citations, and conversational depth.
Whether you’re a student, researcher, marketer, or just curious, this AI-powered assistant can fetch precise answers, provide source-backed insights, and save you hours of browsing time.
And here’s the best part, Airtel users in India can access Perplexity Pro for free for an entire year. But more on that in a bit.
What is Perplexity AI?
Perplexity AI is an AI-powered conversational search engine. It combines the power of Large Language Models (LLMs) with real-time search capabilities, giving users fact-based answers complete with live web citations.
It’s built on top of OpenAI’s models (like GPT-4) and can access the internet to retrieve the most recent information, unlike ChatGPT’s free tier, which is limited to pre-trained data.
Key Features:
Conversational Search: Ask complex, follow-up questions — Perplexity keeps context.
Live Web Access: Get up-to-date info with links to sources.
Cited Answers: Every fact is backed by reliable references.
Multimodal Input: Ask using text, voice, or image.
No Ads: Clean, distraction-free interface.
Perplexity is especially useful for researchers, marketers, content creators, and professionals who want reliable information fast, with minimal fluff.
How to Use Perplexity AI?
Getting started with Perplexity is refreshingly easy. Here’s a quick walkthrough:
Step 1: Visit perplexity.ai
No need to download an app — it works right from your browser. (Apps are also available for iOS & Android.)
Step 2: Ask a Question
Type (or speak) your query — just like you would in ChatGPT or Google.
Example:
“What are the latest updates in Google Ads policy for 2025?”
Perplexity gives you a clear answer, followed by citations from top sources — Forbes, Google blog, Search Engine Journal, etc.
Step 3: Dive Deeper with Follow-Up Prompts
You can ask follow-up questions, and Perplexity remembers the context. Perfect for layered research.
Step 4: Use the ‘Copilot’ Feature (Pro only)
Copilot acts like an AI researcher — it asks you clarifying questions and tailors your search with precision.
Step 5: Save, Share, or Export
Perplexity lets you bookmark responses, copy citations, and even share responses with team members.
What Can Perplexity AI Help You With?
Perplexity goes beyond basic Q&A — it’s a research assistant, search engine, and AI analyst rolled into one.
1. Content Research
Writers, bloggers, and SEO experts can get topic overviews, keyword trends, and reference-backed summaries in seconds.
Example:
“Write an SEO blog outline for ‘Google Ads Cost in India 2025’” — Perplexity will cite blogs, forums, and Google updates.
2. Business & Marketing Insights
Ask for competitor research, market trends, campaign examples, or brand analysis — and get accurate, source-linked results.
Example:
“What are the top influencer marketing trends in India this year?”
3. Learning & Education
Students and teachers can simplify topics, explain formulas, or translate academic research into plain language.
Example:
“Explain quantum computing like I’m 12.”
4. Tech, Coding, and Development
From writing snippets of code to troubleshooting, Perplexity can help devs save hours.
Example:
_”Fix this JavaScript fetch error” → Instant solution + citations from Stack Overflow or MDN Docs.
5. Shopping, Travel, and Daily Use
Plan a trip itinerary, compare phones, or even write emails.
Example:
“Give me a travel plan for 3 days in Manali”
Bonus: Voice + Image Input
Snap a picture of an object or use voice to search — Perplexity makes it easy to interact hands-free.
Airtel Offer: How to Get 1 Year of Perplexity Pro for Free
If you’re an Airtel postpaid, broadband, or prepaid (with data plan) user in India, you can get Perplexity Pro free for 1 year — no credit card required.
Here’s how:
- Visit https://www.airtel.in/thanks-app/perplexity-ai
- Sign in with your Airtel number.
- Activate your free Perplexity Pro subscription.
What you get with Pro:
- Access to GPT-4 Turbo
- Copilot mode for advanced searches
- Unlimited file uploads
- Image generation
- Priority processing
This offer is valued at ~$20/month globally, making it a ₹17,000/year freebie for Airtel users.
Perplexity vs ChatGPT vs Google
Feature | Perplexity AI | ChatGPT (Free/Pro) | Google Search |
Data Freshness | Live Web Search | Free: 2022 data Pro: Web access | Live |
Citations & Sources | Yes | Limited in Free | Not structured |
Conversational AI | Yes | Yes | No |
Multimodal (Text/Image/Voice) | Yes | Free: No, Paid: Yes | Voice Only |
Interface | Clean, distraction-free | Chat-style | Ads + Links |
Paid/Free Versions | Free + Pro option | Free + Pro ($20/month) | Free (ad-supported) |
- Use Perplexity when you need accurate, concise, source-backed answers fast.
- Use ChatGPT for creative writing, brainstorming, and generating long-form content.
- Use Google for exploring multiple sources and websites.
Together, they form a powerful stack, but Perplexity is best when trust, speed, and sources matter. Perplexity AI is the future of search and research, combining the clarity of a chatbot with the reliability of live data.
For students, marketers, developers, and creators, it’s a game-changer. And with the Airtel free Pro offer, now’s the perfect time to try it. Whether you’re writing your next blog, planning a trip, or comparing ad platforms, Perplexity gets you there faster, smarter, and with fewer tabs open.
FAQs for Perplexity AI
1. Is Perplexity AI free to use?
Yes, Perplexity AI offers a free version that includes most core features like real-time search and cited answers. However, advanced features like Copilot, GPT-4 Turbo access, and file uploads are part of the Pro plan.
2. What is the difference between Perplexity AI and ChatGPT?
Perplexity AI combines conversational AI with live web search and citations. ChatGPT is great for creative tasks and writing, but doesn’t always cite sources (unless on the Pro plan with browsing enabled).
3. Is Perplexity AI better than Google Search?
Perplexity gives summarised, source-backed answers — ideal for quick understanding. Google is still best for exploring multiple websites and in-depth research across forums, news, and niche sources.
4. How do I get Perplexity Pro with Airtel?
Visit airtel.in/thanks-app/perplexity-ai, log in with your Airtel number, and activate your 1-year free subscription.
5. Can I use Perplexity AI on my phone?
Yes! Perplexity is available as a mobile app on both Android and iOS, and it’s also fully accessible via your mobile browser.
6. Is Perplexity AI ad-free?
Yes, even the free version offers a clean, ad-free experience — one of its biggest advantages over traditional search engines.