A wave of frustration is hitting Indian tech enthusiasts as Perplexity AI and Airtel appear to have altered the terms of their highly publicized "One Year Free Perplexity Pro" collaboration.
The Original Promise Launched as part of the Airtel Thanks program, the offer originally allowed eligible Airtel users to claim a year of Perplexity Pro (valued at ~$200) without any financial commitment. Archived versions of the official help page dated as recently as late November 2024 explicitly confirmed that users did not need to provide credit card or debit card information to activate the service.
The December 23rd Shift On December 23, the landscape shifted. Users who had already successfully signed up—and those attempting to join—received emails and saw updated web pages stating that a payment method is now mandatory.
The updated help center link now states that while the first year remains free, a "valid payment method" must be attached to the account for "verification purposes" and to ensure "uninterrupted service" once the trial ends.
User Backlash The sudden change has raised two primary concerns among the Indian user base:
Security & Privacy: Many users chose the offer specifically because it didn't require sharing sensitive banking details.
Retroactive Changes: Users who signed up weeks ago are reportedly being told they must now add a card or risk losing the "free" access they had already secured.
What This Means for You If you are an Airtel subscriber using this promo, check your registered email. You may be required to log in and add a card to prevent your Pro account from being downgraded to the "Free" tier.
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