Perplexity AI Looks to Expand Operations in India

Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI on Saturday announced plans to recruit talent to expand the company’s presence in India. This move comes after Srinivas’ recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, where they discussed AI adoption and its potential impact on India.

“I am looking to recruit someone to work together on growing Perplexity in India. It will be fun and intense. You must be based in India and willing to travel and meet with strategic partners and institutions—scrappy startup mode,” said Srinivas in a post on Linkedin. He invited applications via email requesting a resume and a brief overview of exceptional achievements. 

Interested candidates can apply here. 

The company, now valued at $9 billion following a $500 million funding round, is targeting India to further its global expansion. Launched in 2022, the AI-powered search engine offers a conversational alternative to Google search, attracting attention from users worldwide.

On December 28, 2024, Srinivas met with PM Modi in New Delhi to discuss AI’s potential in India. They explored topics such as AI adoption, its applications in various sectors, ethical development, and the creation of localised AI solutions for India’s diverse population.

Following the meeting, Srinivas posted on X, “Had the honour to meet Prime Minister @narendramodi ji. We had a great conversation about the potential for AI adoption in India and across the world. Really inspired by Modi Ji’s dedication to staying updated on the topic and his remarkable vision for the future.”

PM Modi responded, “Was great to meet you and discuss AI, its uses and its evolution. Good to see you doing great work with @perplexity_ai. Wish you all the best for your future endeavours.”

Srinivas, an alumnus of IIT Madras, has previously worked at DeepMind, Google, and OpenAI before co-founding Perplexity AI. The company has attracted investments from prominent figures like Jeff Bezos and organisations such as NVIDIA.

Srinivas has yet to get his green card, officially known as a permanent resident card, in the US. A few weeks ago, in a post on X, he said, “I think I should get a green card. What do you think?” To this, xAI founder Elon Musk, who will soon head US President-elect Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), responded, “Yes.”

In October, while expressing frustration over the difficulty of immigrating to the US, Srinivas said, “I have been waiting for my green card for the last three years. I still haven’t gotten it.” Moreover, he added that it took more than five years for him to seek permission to leave the US and step back in.