Perplexity Cancels Campus Partner Programme in India After Widespread Fraud

Perplexity AI’s popular Campus Partner Programme — aimed at recruiting students to promote its AI tools — is facing major allegations of misuse in India, as reports of fraudulent sign-ups and reward manipulation surface online.

The programme, launched in Fall 2025, offers students free access to Perplexity Pro, referral bonuses, and the chance to earn unlimited rewards for driving new user sign-ups to its Comet browser and AI products. It’s designed to help students gain real-world marketing experience and build a community of AI advocates on campuses worldwide.

However, users on social media allege that the initiative in India has been flooded with fake or bot-generated referrals, leading to “reward hacking” and skewed results.

Under the programme’s terms, participants are strictly prohibited from using “bots, automated scripts, or any software to generate sign-ups or engagement.”

While some students praise the opportunity to work closely with one of the fastest-growing AI startups, others claim the system’s rapid expansion left it vulnerable to exploitation.

Perplexity has not yet commented publicly on the allegations, but the situation highlights the growing challenges AI companies face in balancing viral growth programs with authenticity and fairness — especially in highly competitive student markets like India.

The Left Shift has reached out to Perplexity for comments.