Has Perplexity Outperformed ChatGPT to Achieve the Top Rank on the Apple App Store?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Perplexity AI has overtaken ChatGPT on the Apple App Store.
- A partnership with Airtel provides users with free access to premium services.
- Perplexity Pro offers advanced AI model access.
- OpenAI is focusing on its new ChatGPT agent.
- The AI landscape is rapidly evolving with new competitors.
New Delhi, July 18 (NationPress) In a remarkable shift within the global AI landscape, Perplexity AI, led by Aravind Srinivas, has overtaken OpenAI's ChatGPT to seize the number one position among free applications on the Apple App Store.
This sudden rise is attributed to a strategic partnership with telecom giant Airtel, which now offers its customers complimentary access to the premium Perplexity Pro subscription, valued at Rs 17,000 annually.
Users of Perplexity Pro gain access to cutting-edge AI models, including GPT-4.1, Claude, Grok 4, and advanced image generation tools.
Furthermore, non-paying users are granted early access to the company's exclusive Comet browser, currently available only through invitations.
While Perplexity leads the iOS rankings, ChatGPT remains the most widely used application on the Google Play Store, where Perplexity has yet to appear.
Another contender, Google's Gemini, is currently positioned fifth among the App Store's free apps.
In response, OpenAI, under Sam Altman's leadership, is focusing on its newly launched ChatGPT agent, a versatile assistant capable of managing tasks like reading emails, browsing the web, and creating presentations.
Earlier this year, the company gained further traction when its GPT-4-powered image generation went viral worldwide.
However, trends in this fast-paced AI environment can be fleeting. Elon Musk's Grok saw a spike in interest following the launch of Grok 3 and the viral Ghibli-style image phenomenon, while the Chinese AI firm DeepSeek made headlines by posing a direct challenge to ChatGPT with its own models.
Founded in 2022, Perplexity has emerged as a formidable player in the realm of generative AI.
The startup has demonstrated robust investor and user confidence, tripling its valuation from $1 billion to $3 billion last year. Considering the future applications of AI tools, it appears poised for continued success.