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Billionaire Aravind Srinivas sharply warns Indian techie who used Perplexity’s Comet AI to complete Coursera course

The X user's tweet about using Comet to finish an online course has sparked serious discussion about the role of AI in education.

Published on: Oct 9, 2025, 08:06:39 IST
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A tweet by an X user about using Perplexity AI’s Comet browser to complete an online course has received numerous responses, including one from the company’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas.

Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, recently became India's youngest Indian billionaire. (File Photo)
Aravind Srinivas, co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI, recently became India's youngest Indian billionaire. (File Photo)

It all started when the X user, whose profile says he is a web developer, shared a video showing Comet being used to complete a Coursera course. The user later added that ironically the course was on “AI Ethics, Responsibility and Creativity.”

Also Read: Aravind Srinivas stuns Nikhil Kamath: ‘I’m actually the first…'

The video shared by the techie captured Comet answering the questions and completing the course. The individual posted, “Just completed my Coursera course,” thanking Srinivas, Perplexity, and Comet AI.

Reacting to the tweet, which received over three lakh views, Srinivas said, “Absolutely don’t do this.”

Aravind Srinivas' reply to a Perplexity Comet AI user.

How did social media react?

A third remarked, “If my company knew about this, they'd never allow Comet.” A fourth wrote, “The very purpose of education is lost here. Please give the certificate to Comet.”

Who is Aravind Srinivas?

The 31-year-old from Chennai is co-founder and CEO of Perplexity AI. He recently became the youngest billionaire in India, according to the Hurun India Rich List 2025. The list estimated his net worth at 21,190 crore.

“The M3M Hurun India Rich List 2025 chronicles India’s shift from a services-centric past to a deep-tech, product-led powerhouse. The debut of Aravind Srinivas, 31, founder of Perplexity, as the youngest billionaire, underscores this transformation — his wealth stems from building a foundational AI model competing globally,” the Hurun report noted.

An alum of IIT Madras, he has dual degrees in Electrical Engineering and a PhD in Computer Science. Before founding his own company, he worked at some big tech companies, including OpenAI, Google, and DeepMind.

He started Perplexity AI with Denis Yarats, Johnny Ho, and Andy Konwinski in 2022.

 
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Trisha Sengupta

Trisha Sengupta works as Chief Content Producer at Hindustan Times with over six years of experience in the digital newsroom. Known for her ability to decode the internet’s most talked-about moments, she specialises in high-engagement storytelling that bridges the gap between viral trends and traditional journalism. Throughout her tenure, Trisha has focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and human emotion. She frequently covers personal finance and real estate struggles in hubs like Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad, while also documenting the unique challenges of the NRI experience. Her work often highlights the movements and philosophies of global newsmakers and personalities like Elon Musk, Mukesh Ambani, Nikhil Kamath, Dubai crown prince, and MrBeast. From reporting on Amazon or Meta layoffs and startup culture to the emergence of AI-driven platforms like Grok and xAI, she provides a grounded and empathetic perspective on the stories shaping our world. When not decoding the internet, Trisha is likely offline: lost in a book, exploring a historical ruin, or navigating the world as a solo traveler. She balances her fast-paced career with family time and a healthy dose of curiosity, currently trading her "human" sources for silicon ones as she masters AI to future-proof her storytelling.

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