Indian digital mapping and navigation company MapmyIndia has made an interesting move – publicly inviting Perplexity AI, the U.S.-based conversational answer engine led by Indian-origin CEO Aravind Srinivas, to collaborate. The open invitation followed a viral post by Srinivas, who commented on how incredibly difficult it is to build products like Google Maps.
MapmyIndia, well known for its consumer app Mappls, was quick to respond. The company used the moment to highlight its long-standing expertise in mapping India’s vast and complex geography, suggesting a potential synergy between its detailed data and Perplexity’s AI-driven search technology. In a broader sense, this move reflects a growing trend among Indian tech companies to blend deep local datasets with the emerging power of generative AI.
Key Takeaways
- Open Invitation: MapmyIndia publicly invited Perplexity AI for a partnership via a post on X (formerly Twitter).
- Context: The gesture came directly in response to Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas’s viral remark that “Maps are the hardest” products to build.
- MapmyIndia’s Strength: The company emphasized its nearly three decades of experience building detailed, house-number-level maps of India – something even global players have struggled to achieve.
- Potential: A collaboration could merge Perplexity’s conversational AI search capabilities with MapmyIndia’s granular geospatial data, creating a powerful localized alternative to existing global mapping and search platforms.
- Precedent: MapmyIndia also cited its successful partnership with Zoho as an encouraging model for similar future collaborations.
The conversation really began when Aravind Srinivas, who previously worked at OpenAI and Google Brain, posted that services like YouTube and Maps are “the hardest. Maybe even impossible,” for startups to replicate. He pointed to the immense data requirements and technical complexities behind them.
MapmyIndia’s response was both gracious and confident. The company agreed that Srinivas was “so correct,” yet added that it had, in fact, done the “impossible” in India. Since 1995, MapmyIndia has been building and refining its maps with impressive precision-down to individual house numbers – something that even the biggest global competitors find challenging in India’s diverse landscape.
The company took pride in its role as a “swadeshi” enterprise, emphasizing how its location intelligence supports navigation, logistics, mobility, and governance for businesses and public agencies alike.
A Look at the Proposed Synergy
MapmyIndia’s strength lies in its exceptionally detailed and locally accurate maps. Its Mappls app, which now serves over 35 million users, offers uniquely Indian features – 3D junction views for flyovers, real-time alerts for speed breakers, and updates on accident-prone zones.
Perplexity AI, on the other hand, is making waves with its conversational search engine that answers directly, pulling from multiple web sources while providing citations. It’s a distinctly different approach from traditional search engines.
Now, imagine combining that with MapmyIndia’s data. The result could be a transformative experience for users – perhaps even allowing someone to ask, “What’s the fastest route to the nearest South Indian restaurant with parking and good filter coffee reviews?” and actually get a contextually smart, real-time answer.
In that sense, MapmyIndia’s invitation feels more than just a social media gesture – it signals a shift in direction. The company seems eager to evolve from being purely a mapping brand into becoming a foundational layer for India’s AI ecosystem. With partnerships like this, it could strengthen its edge against global giants such as Google Maps, while supporting the broader goal of technological self-reliance in India.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is MapmyIndia and Mappls?
A1. MapmyIndia, founded in 1995, is an Indian technology company that builds digital maps, geospatial software, and location-based IoT technologies. Mappls is its consumer-facing app, offering navigation and mapping services tailored for Indian users as a localized alternative to Google Maps.
Q2. What is Perplexity AI and who is Aravind Srinivas?
A2. Perplexity AI is a U.S.-based AI startup known for its conversational search engine that provides direct, cited answers to user queries. Aravind Srinivas, its CEO and co-founder, is an Indian-origin computer scientist who has previously worked with OpenAI, DeepMind, and Google Brain.
Q3. Why did MapmyIndia invite Perplexity AI for a partnership?
A3. After Srinivas tweeted about how difficult it is to build map platforms, MapmyIndia took the opportunity to highlight its three decades of mapping expertise in India. The company proposed a collaboration that would merge its precise geospatial data with Perplexity’s advanced AI capabilities.
Q4. How would a MapmyIndia and Perplexity AI collaboration benefit users?
A4. A partnership could make search and navigation far more intuitive. Users could pose natural-language questions, and the AI-powered by MapmyIndia’s local data – would respond with precise, context-aware answers and directions. Such a system could greatly enhance how people navigate India’s dynamic mix of urban and rural environments.
