Perplexity AI Explores R&D and Data Centre Presence in Gujarat Following Talks With CM Bhupendra Patel

Perplexity AI is exploring opportunities to establish an engineering and research and development presence in Gujarat, along with potential data centre infrastructure, following discussions between CEO Aravind Srinivas and Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel during the state delegation's visit to the United States.

Patel described his meeting with Srinivas as "insightful" and said the discussions covered potential collaborations, an engineering and R&D presence, and opportunities for data centre and hybrid infrastructure setups in Gujarat.

The meeting comes as Gujarat seeks to position itself as a destination for investment in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, data centres and other emerging technologies.

Perplexity AI and Gujarat Discuss Engineering and R&D Presence

During the meeting, Patel presented Gujarat's digital infrastructure, technology talent and policy environment as potential advantages for global AI companies considering expansion in India.

A key part of the discussion was the possibility of Perplexity establishing an engineering and R&D presence in Gujarat.

The two sides also explored opportunities around AI infrastructure. According to reports citing the Gujarat government's statement, Srinivas expressed interest in exploring either a data centre in Gujarat or a hybrid arrangement involving a developer and Perplexity.

No final investment, location, timeline or size of the proposed facilities has been announced. The discussions should therefore be viewed as exploratory rather than confirmation that Perplexity has committed to establishing a Gujarat facility.

Bhupendra Patel Highlights Gujarat's AI Ambitions

Sharing details of the meeting, Patel linked the discussions to India's broader ambition to become a global centre for artificial intelligence and DeepTech.

He said Gujarat offers a combination of digital infrastructure, policy predictability and technology talent that could support companies working on advanced AI.

The state has been steadily expanding its technology strategy beyond traditional IT, with growing attention to AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing and data centres.

Part of a Wider Silicon Valley Technology Outreach

The Perplexity meeting was one part of a broader series of technology discussions during Patel's US visit ahead of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2027.

The Gujarat delegation also held talks with technology companies including Google and Micron Technology, with discussions spanning AI skills, agriculture, data security, semiconductor manufacturing and digital infrastructure.

At Google, discussions included expanding AI training for students, educators and young professionals. Potential applications of AI in agriculture, including crop-pattern analysis, soil monitoring and climate resilience, were also discussed.

The meeting with Micron focused on the progress of its semiconductor facility in Sanand and Gujarat's efforts to develop Sanand and Dholera as major semiconductor hubs.

Gujarat Is Building a Broader AI Ecosystem

The discussions with Perplexity fit into Gujarat's wider push to attract AI companies and build the infrastructure required to support them.

Earlier in 2026, the state highlighted plans around AI research and startup development, while its technology strategy has increasingly connected AI with data centres, semiconductor infrastructure and talent development.

This matters because attracting AI companies is no longer simply about offering office space or incentives. Advanced AI businesses increasingly need access to computing infrastructure, skilled engineering talent, reliable power, data infrastructure and a supportive research ecosystem.

A potential Perplexity engineering or infrastructure presence would therefore represent more than another technology office if the discussions eventually translate into an investment.

Why It Matters

Perplexity has emerged as one of the prominent companies developing AI-powered search and answer technologies. An engineering or R&D presence in Gujarat could deepen the state's connection to global AI product development while creating opportunities for local engineers, researchers and startups.

The data centre discussion is equally significant. AI services require substantial computing infrastructure, and governments around the world are competing to attract the data centres and compute capacity needed to support increasingly demanding AI workloads.

For Gujarat, the discussions signal an attempt to build several parts of that ecosystem simultaneously: AI research, engineering talent, semiconductor manufacturing and digital infrastructure.

For now, however, Perplexity's potential Gujarat expansion remains under discussion. Whether it develops into an R&D centre, data centre, hybrid infrastructure partnership or another form of collaboration will depend on subsequent negotiations.

Key Highlights

• Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel met Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas during his US visit.

• The two discussed a potential engineering and R&D presence for Perplexity in Gujarat.

• Discussions also covered the possibility of a data centre or hybrid infrastructure setup.

• No final investment or facility has yet been formally announced.

• The meeting forms part of Gujarat's wider push to attract investment in AI, semiconductors, data centres and DeepTech.

• Patel's US technology outreach also included meetings with Google and Micron Technology.

Sources: Primary Source: Bhupendra Patel's official X post announcing his meeting with Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas.