Aravind Srinivas, the Indian-origin CEO of San Francisco-based Perplexity AI, has hinted at a potential collaboration with Zerodha, India’s largest stockbroker. Srinivas confirmed that he has already engaged in discussions with Zerodha co-founders Nithin and Nikhil Kamath, suggesting that an official announcement could come soon. This comes after Srinivas’ startup made waves earlier with a $34.5 billion unsolicited all-cash offer to acquire Google Chrome, signaling the company’s bold ambitions in the tech and AI sector.
Perplexity AI recently rolled out a new finance-focused feature, allowing users to access information on Indian stocks through its Perplexity Finance interface. The launch immediately sparked questions from users about a Zerodha integration. In response, Srinivas revealed that conversations with the Kamath brothers had already begun, teasing a forthcoming development that could bridge AI-driven insights with stock trading capabilities.
Perplexity AI functions as a hybrid “answer engine,” combining the capabilities of a traditional search engine with a conversational AI chatbot. Users can pose questions in natural language and receive real-time answers, complete with web-sourced citations. The platform’s finance features aim to bring this technology to investors by providing insights and analysis on stock markets, potentially expanding the user base in India and globally.
The idea of collaborating with Zerodha is not new. Last week, a user suggested that Perplexity AI integrate Indian stock markets into its Comet browser finance page. Srinivas responded by tagging Nikhil Kamath, who confirmed a call was scheduled to explore the possibility further. Such a partnership would combine Perplexity AI’s innovative data and search tools with Zerodha’s extensive brokerage infrastructure.
This development comes amid Perplexity AI’s ambitious growth strategy. The startup made headlines with its $34.5 billion bid for Google Chrome, reflecting its determination to scale rapidly by acquiring platforms with large user bases. Previously, it also attempted a merger with TikTok US, aiming to navigate geopolitical challenges while expanding its influence in the digital ecosystem.
With AI-powered finance features and strategic collaborations on the horizon, Perplexity AI is positioning itself as a key player at the intersection of technology and investment, potentially transforming how users engage with the Indian stock market.
