Chennai’s Aravind Srinivas Becomes India’s Youngest AI Billionaire
At just 31, Aravind Srinivas from Chennai has made history by becoming India’s youngest billionaire. His journey from IIT Madras to global AI labs and finally to founding Perplexity AI is a story of vision, grit, and innovation. This article explores his rise, the impact of his work, and what it means for India’s tech future.
Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, on June 7, 1994
Studied Electrical Engineering at IIT Madras
Completed PhD in Computer Science at UC Berkeley
Specialized in AI fields like computer vision, reinforcement learning, and generative models
Worked at OpenAI, DeepMind (London), and Google
Contributed to projects like DALL·E 2, HaloNet, and ResNet-RS
Built expertise in foundational AI models and search technologies
Co-founded Perplexity AI in August 2022 with Denis Yarats and Andy Konwinski
Developed a conversational search engine offering fast, referenced answers
Positioned as a challenger to Google Gemini and ChatGPT
Focused on accuracy, speed, and user trust
India is now Perplexity’s largest user base
Plans to open engineering hubs in Bengaluru or Hyderabad
Exploring partnerships in travel, education, shopping, and healthcare
Building a Perplexity fund to support Indian AI startups
Invested in ElevenLabs (text-to-speech) and Suno (text-to-music)
Advocates for generative AI innovation
Plans IPO after 2028, aiming to keep Perplexity independent
Represents India’s shift from service-led to product-led tech economy
inspires young engineers and entrepreneurs
Highlights the importance of deep-tech and AI in global competitiveness
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Aravind Srinivas is more than a billionaire—he’s a symbol of India’s emerging dominance in deep-tech. His journey blends academic brilliance, global exposure, and entrepreneurial courage. As India embraces AI, Srinivas stands as a beacon for the next generation of innovators.
