India’s Challenges: A Golden Opportunity for Perplexity’s Growth
Published on 1/6/2025 | 3 min read
Published on 1/6/2025 | 3 min read
Srinivas’ interaction with PM Modi has sparked discussions across social media, with many speculating about a potential Perplexity base in India. Known for his love for his homeland, Srinivas’ recent statements on social media have fueled hopes for expansion.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Srinivas declared, “Perplexity India will happen.” This announcement coincided with the Indian government’s initiative to provide access to 13,000 academic journals for 18 million students, faculty, and researchers. Srinivas even proposed an economic framework to make Perplexity Pro accessible to Indian researchers and students.
However, official plans for Perplexity’s expansion to India remain undisclosed. Despite inquiries, the company has not shared further details about the meeting with PM Modi or its India strategy.
India presents unique challenges and opportunities that a tailored version of Perplexity could address:
Indian government websites often suffer from poor accessibility and user design, making navigation difficult. A study of 65 e-government websites revealed non-compliance with accessibility standards like WCAG 2.1 Level AA. Key issues include:
Perplexity could address these issues by developing AI-powered solutions to extract and present accurate, relevant, and accessible information, vastly improving the user experience.
Indian citizens often struggle to interpret government documents due to technical jargon and complex structures.
Mandeep Gill, co-founder of Labour Law Advisor, explained:
“Government documents are not written for the average person. Unless you’re a law student, understanding a 400-page legal document to find specific information is a daunting task.”
Perplexity’s natural language processing (NLP) capabilities could simplify the extraction of insights from lengthy legal and administrative documents. This would empower citizens by making critical information accessible and easy to understand.
While exploring opportunities in India, Srinivas faces ongoing challenges with the US Green Card process, waiting for over three years.
In a post on X, Srinivas asked:
“I think I should get a green card. What do you think?”
Elon Musk, poised to lead the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the upcoming US administration, responded with a simple “Yes.”
Srinivas expressed optimism about potential policy changes under Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy that could streamline the immigration process. He suggested increasing application fees in exchange for faster, high-quality services.
Despite his struggles in the US, industry leaders are encouraging Srinivas to consider growing Perplexity from India.
However, setting up operations in India requires navigating challenges such as:
The potential expansion of Perplexity to India aligns with the country’s growing focus on AI and digital transformation. By addressing India’s unique challenges, Perplexity could:
Srinivas’ decision to either persist with his Green Card application or shift focus to India will play a pivotal role in shaping Perplexity’s future. Regardless of the path chosen, Perplexity’s commitment to innovation and problem-solving ensures its continued relevance and impact.