Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, revealed that during his internship in Bengaluru, he rarely stepped out, choosing work over exploring the city. Living in a Koramangala apartment, he prioritized productivity, a decision he now reflects on with slight regret.

Speaking on Nikhil Kamath’s podcast, he admitted, “I should have explored Bangalore more. But the traffic was bad even then, and I hear it’s worse now. Maybe staying in was smart.” However, he appreciated Bengaluru’s weather, calling it “awesome compared to Chennai.”

His passion for machine learning ignited at IIT Madras through a Kaggle competition, where he realized the thrill of AI. “It wasn’t just about winning; it was about understanding how machines learn,” he recalled.

Discussing his work philosophy, he said, “I love the intellectual challenge, staying curious, and learning new things.” A memorable moment came when AI expert Lex Fridman tested his knowledge on neural networks and Google’s business model, pushing him to his limits.

Srinivas also emphasized the importance of asking questions, quoting Confucius: “Feel foolish for a moment when you ask, or remain a fool forever if you don’t.”

In a major student-friendly move, Perplexity AI plans to offer free pro access to students, aiming for a million sign-ups by March.