Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas Reflects on Bengaluru Internship and Advocates for Indigenous AI Development

Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas Reflects on Bengaluru Internship and Advocates for Indigenous AI Development

In a recent appearance on Nikhil Kamath's podcast, "The WTF is?", Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, shared insights into his formative experiences and vision for India's role in the global AI landscape.

Bengaluru Internship: A Period of Intense Focus

During his three-week internship in Bengaluru's Koramangala district, Srinivas prioritized work over exploration. He cited the city's notorious traffic as a deterrent, stating, "I just worked all the time. Looking back, maybe I should have explored Bangalore a bit more." Despite this, he fondly recalled the city's pleasant weather compared to Chennai.

Passion for AI and Machine Learning

Srinivas's enthusiasm for machine learning ignited during a Kaggle competition, which he described as his entry point into AI. He emphasized the importance of curiosity-driven learning and the intellectual challenges that come with understanding how machines learn from data.

Advocating for Indigenous AI Development in India

Addressing India's position in the AI sector, Srinivas highlighted the need for homegrown innovation. He proposed that India should establish its own AI research companies, similar to DeepSeek, to train foundational AI models capable of excelling globally. "India should have its own DeepSeek-like company that not only competes in Indian languages but also on global benchmarks," he asserted.

Perplexity AI's Ambitious Growth Plans

Looking ahead, Perplexity AI aims for an initial public offering (IPO) by 2028, with a target of achieving an annual recurring revenue of $1 billion by 2026. Since its inception in 2022, the company has positioned itself as a leading AI-powered search engine, leveraging natural language queries and generative AI to deliver more informative and accurate search results.

Srinivas's reflections underscore his commitment to advancing AI and his vision for India's pivotal role in shaping the future of artificial intelligence.

For a deeper insight into his perspectives, you can watch the full podcast episode below:

Nikhil Kamath ft. Perplexity CEO, Aravind Srinivas | WTF Online Ep 1.