Big Blunder in the AI Wars: Perplexity’s India Domain Hijacked — All Traffic Now Lands on Google Gemini!

A shocking twist in the AI-search wars: the domain Perplexity’s supposed Indian URL - perplexity.in - is redirecting not to Perplexity’s own platform, but to Gemini (by Google).

The redirect has sparked speculation over whether this is a sly competitive move, a prank, or simply a stark oversight in brand protection.

Important note: There is no official confirmation from either Google or Perplexity that Google owns the perplexity.in domain or configured the redirect. The origin of the redirect remains unclear, adding another layer of mystery to this blunder.

What’s happening (and why it matters)?

Users typing “perplexity.in” land on Gemini’s landing page instead of Perplexity.

Perplexity never used the “.in” domain - its official site remains perplexity.ai (and sometimes perplexity.com) as part of its global domain strategy.

Because “.in” TLD was unclaimed, someone else purchased it (for as little as ₹499 a year) and redirected it to Gemini, a technique popularly called “typosquatting.”

Consequences: Traffic, Trust & Brand Confusion

This seemingly small misstep reveals how critical domain strategy is - especially in booming sectors like AI:

High-intent Indian users looking for Perplexity may end up trying Gemini instead - shifting potential traffic and new user sign-ups away from Perplexity.

Casual users might assume Perplexity and Google Gemini are linked - creating brand confusion, eroding brand identity for Perplexity, and inadvertently training audiences to equate Perplexity with Gemini.

For rapidly scaling AI firms expanding globally, missing low-cost country-level domains (or failing to secure them) can turn into a strategic vulnerability - especially in a competitive market like India.

A Costly Mistake with Big Lessons for Every Brand

This episode is more than just a domain hiccup. It serves as a caution for any brand -especially tech/AI - aiming for global reach while catering to local markets:

Domain Variants Matter

Securing common TLDs (.ai, .com, .in, .co, etc.) - and even common misspellings - is essential to prevent hijacking, squatting, or accidental traffic loss.

Brand Protection = User Trust

Users seldom scrutinize URLs. A wrong redirect can mislead users into believing they’re on an “official” site - damaging long-term trust.

In Competitive Tech Battles, Details Count

As AI companies compete for user acquisition and mindshare, something as trivial as a forgotten domain can tilt the balance.

The Good News: Perplexity Still Works

Important to note - Perplexity’s core service (on perplexity.ai) continues to work normally. So, this isn’t a shutdown or failure.

But the “.in blunder” acts as a wake-up call for organizations: effective branding and growth must include basic but critical steps like domain safeguarding.

What Happens Next — And What to Watch For

Will Perplexity move quickly to reclaim perplexity.in - or will it lose Indian traffic for good?

Could this spark a broader domain-squatting arms race among AI firms and startups?

Will Indian users - delivered to Gemini unknowingly - shift long-term loyal users away from Perplexity?

And most importantly: will Perplexity learn from this and strengthen its brand/domain protection strategy before it’s too late?

A small oversight can cost big in today’s digital world. Don’t let your competitors gain an edge. Partner with Make My Brand today and safeguard your growth. Contact us now and take control of your digital future.