Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas Urges Youngsters: Ditch Instagram Doom Scrolling, Embrace AI

As artificial intelligence continues to upend traditional industries, Aravind Srinivas, CEO of AI search platform Perplexity, has a message for the younger generation: it’s time to put down Instagram and pick up AI tools.

In a recent interview with Matthew Berman, Srinivas warned that endless doomscrolling is eating away at valuable hours that could otherwise be used to learn, experiment, and stay relevant in an AI-first economy.

“Spend less time doomscrolling on Instagram; spend more time using the AIs,” Srinivas said. “That’s your way to add value to the new society.” He emphasized that individuals fluent in using AI will be significantly more employable, while others risk being left behind.

Srinivas, who is of Indian origin, co-founded Perplexity in 2022. The platform gained attention for delivering real-time, cited answers from across the internet—positioning itself as a reliable alternative to traditional search engines. He has since become one of the most vocal advocates of AI literacy, especially among young users.

“The human race has never been extremely fast at adapting. This is testing the limits,” Srinivas noted, referring to the speed at which AI capabilities are evolving. “There are new breakthroughs every few months. Everyone will have to adapt fast.”

He encouraged students and professionals alike to stop consuming content passively and begin building skills—either by joining fast-growing AI startups or developing their own solutions.

Meanwhile, in a boost for AI accessibility in India, Bharti Airtel has announced that all its prepaid, postpaid and broadband users will now receive a free one-year subscription to Perplexity Pro. The premium plan, typically priced at Rs. 17,000, can be activated through the Airtel Thanks app. It offers an ad-free experience, voice-powered queries, and deeper search responses—making it an ideal learning tool for students and professionals.