Perplexity has rapidly become one of India’s most talked-about AI chatbots, but a surprising twist has caught the internet’s attention. When users type Perplexity.in into the address bar, they are not taken to Perplexity at all. Instead, the domain redirects them straight to Google Gemini, one of Perplexity’s biggest competitors in the AI search space.
This unexpected redirect has sparked curiosity among tech users across the country. The explanation behind it is surprisingly simple. Perplexity does not own the Perplexity.in domain. The domain is available for anyone to buy, and it costs around ₹499 on most domain-selling platforms. Whoever purchased it has chosen to point it toward Google’s Gemini page, intentionally or not. There is no confirmation that Google itself is behind the move.
The incident raises questions about Perplexity’s expansion strategy in India. The company has been actively scaling operations in the country and recently partnered with Airtel to bring Perplexity Pro benefits to millions of its subscribers. Yet the brand does not hold the Indian domain that directly matches its name, creating a moment of confusion for new users who expect the domain to lead to the official site.
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This episode also mirrors the earlier JioHotstar situation, where a developer secured JioHotstar.com before the major merger between Jio and Disney Hotstar, creating similar buzz.
What seems like a small ₹499 oversight has now become a viral talking point, highlighting how crucial domain ownership is for tech brands building trust and visibility in India.