Need to shift from India-specific models to global solutions: Perplexity’s CEO

India-born founder of the AI search platform Perplexity, Aravind Srinivas, visited India this week, meeting important stakeholders, including Prime Minister Modi. During the trip, Srinivas spoke about his plans for Perplexity, the future of search, and the evolution of AI.

Recently, while speaking with Mumbai’s tech and entrepreneurial community, the Tech Entrepreneurs Association of Mumbai (TEAM), Srinivas highlighted the need for India to develop world-class, AI-first models and innovations. He emphasized leveraging India's vast internet user base and readily available open-source models to build concrete use cases, particularly in areas like health tech and fintech, where India possesses unique advantages.

Additionally, Srinivas encouraged a shift from building solely India-specific AI models to creating globally impactful solutions, envisioning Indian-made apps being used worldwide.

Srinivas, along with Andy Konwinski, Denis Yarats, and Johnny Ho, founded Perplexity AI in 2022 as a conversational search engine based on large language models (LLMs) to answer queries. In the past, Srinivas worked with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI. He said that his experience at OpenAI gave him a deep understanding of search technologies and how a strategic, product-centric approach is crucial for establishing a foothold in a competitive market.

“The journey of Perplexity began with a leap of faith. We built the platform prioritizing accuracy and transparency. But today, the true potential of AI lies in its ability to anticipate user needs and offer proactive solutions—not just respond to queries. AI is all about amplifying business potential and improving efficiency while making life truly easy and more meaningful,” he said.

Last week, Bloomberg reported that Perplexity had raised $500 million in its fourth funding round, boosting its valuation to $9 billion.