Perplexity AI, an artificial intelligence search engine, has reported a significant shift in its performance metrics in India following the conclusion of a free access offer provided through the telecommunications company Airtel. According to data reported by TechCrunch, the company’s revenue in the region climbed by approximately 60% once the promotional period for new users ended.

This financial uptick presents a complex picture of user engagement. While the revenue figures suggest a successful transition of users toward paid or sustained engagement models, the platform also recorded a decrease in total new downloads. The data indicates that while the initial free offer was effective at drawing in a large volume of users, the subsequent removal of that offer resulted in a smaller, yet more monetarily productive, user base. The company has not yet provided a detailed breakdown of how many of these users transitioned from the free Airtel-bundled tier to independent paid subscriptions, nor has it commented on the long-term retention strategy for the Indian market following the end of the partnership.