In a surprising technical mishap, Indian users attempting to access the popular AI chatbot Perplexity through its country-specific domain are being automatically redirected to its direct competitor, Google Gemini. This unexpected redirection has raised questions about domain management strategies among global tech companies operating in India.
The Domain Redirect Mystery
When users type Perplexity.in into their web browsers and hit enter, they find themselves landing not on Perplexity's service but on Google Gemini's platform. This situation typically occurs when a company fails to secure its country-specific domain name, leaving the door open for third parties to purchase it and implement redirects.
The San Francisco-based AI startup appears to have overlooked registering the .in domain for the Indian market, creating this unusual scenario where users are directed to a competing service. However, there is no evidence suggesting that Google itself purchased the Perplexity.in domain to implement this redirect.
Perplexity's Global Domain Strategy
Perplexity operates primarily under its Perplexity.ai domain, which serves as its main web address globally. Even when users type Perplexity.com, they are automatically redirected to Perplexity.ai, indicating the company's preference for its .ai extension.
This pattern extends beyond India. The company does not own country-specific domains for other major markets including the United Kingdom (.uk), France (.fr), Canada (.ca), and Germany (.de). This suggests that the omission in India might be part of a broader company policy rather than an isolated oversight.
India Expansion Amid Domain Issues
Despite the domain situation, Perplexity has been actively working to expand its presence in the Indian market. The AI startup recently announced a significant partnership with Airtel to offer Perplexity Pro services to the telecommunications giant's extensive user base.
In September, the company made its AI browser Comet available to Pro plan subscribers in India. This feature allows users to perform various tasks including booking meetings, sending emails, and making online purchases through the AI interface.
The domain redirect issue comes at a crucial time when Perplexity is scaling its Indian operations, potentially creating confusion among new users trying to access the service through what would logically be its Indian web address.
Industry experts note that such domain oversights can impact user acquisition and brand recognition, particularly in competitive markets like India where digital services are growing rapidly. The situation highlights the importance of comprehensive domain strategy for global tech companies expanding into new territories.
