In 2025, AI startup Perplexity entered into an exclusive partnership with Airtel, India's second-largest telecommunications operator, providing its 360 million subscribers with complimentary annual subscriptions to Perplexity Pro, each valued at $200. This strategic initiative was designed to assess whether a free-access model could effectively transition users into long-term paying customers. As the initial wave of free subscriptions neared their expiration date, the test outcomes indicated that while Perplexity experienced substantial user growth in India, its ability to convert these users into paying subscribers remained a formidable challenge. Data from Sensor Tower revealed a remarkable 600% year-on-year surge in Perplexity's downloads in India during the second quarter of 2025; however, its revenue only amounted to $8 million, a stark contrast to ChatGPT's impressive $773 million. Furthermore, Perplexity started integrating sponsored answers into its free search results, a move that altered the user experience. Despite these commercialization obstacles, Perplexity remains committed to its global expansion strategy, having forged partnerships with over 25 telecommunications operators worldwide to fuel user growth and achieve geographic diversification.