Airtel-Perplexity to Jio-Gemini: Why global AI giants are offering free premium access in India

Airtel's partnership with Perplexity to offer free premium access in India marks a significant move by global AI giants to attract users and gather data in the region. This strategy, also seen in Jio's partnership with Gemini, aims to democratize access to AI services, but experts warn of a potential 'bait and switch' tactic, where free services may eventually become paid. This development has significant implications for website owners, particularly those with a large Indian user base. As AI giants offer free premium access, website owners can expect an increase in AI bot traffic, potentially leading to increased server loads and bandwidth usage. Moreover, the gathering of user data by these AI companies may raise concerns about data privacy and security, which website owners must address to maintain user trust. To navigate this landscape, website owners should consider the following actionable tips: monitor AI bot traffic and adjust server resources accordingly, review and update their data privacy policies to ensure compliance with Indian regulations, and utilize llms.txt files to manage and track AI bot interactions on their websites, ensuring that they can identify and mitigate any potential security risks.