Inspired by the Indian government’s initiative to provide free access to 13,000 academic journals for 18 million students, faculty, and researchers, Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas has put forward a unique proposal. He expressed his willingness to collaborate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make Perplexity Pro, the company’s advanced AI tool, available to the same audience.
In a tweet on Sunday, Srinivas stated: “If @narendramodi ji is interested, I would be open to figuring out an economic structure where all Indian students, faculty, and researchers can get Perplexity Pro.”
The government’s initiative, which entails a $715 million investment over three years, offers free access to renowned journals like Elsevier, Nature, and AAAS, benefiting millions in the academic and research community. This groundbreaking policy has earned global recognition, raising the possibility of similar efforts in other countries.
Aligned with India’s mission to democratize knowledge and foster innovation, this move paves the way for further advancements in research and education.
Perplexity Pro, an advanced AI platform, provides tools that can streamline information access and improve learning outcomes for students, educators, and researchers. By proposing an economically feasible framework, Srinivas aims to amplify AI’s role in India’s education and research sectors.
This proposal builds on the success of the government’s journal access initiative and highlights the potential of public-private partnerships to redefine knowledge accessibility in the digital era.
Srinivas’s offer reflects a growing focus on scalable solutions that leverage AI to enhance education and research globally. With AI becoming an essential tool for learning and problem-solving, such collaborations could serve as a model for other nations to follow.