In a move that underscores India’s growing focus on building indigenous technology infrastructure, MapmyIndia has reached out to Perplexity AI for a potential collaboration after the latter’s CEO, Aravind Srinivas, referred to maps as “the hardest.” The homegrown digital mapping pioneer showcased its extensive, house-level mapping data of India as a robust foundation for developing AI-driven applications, highlighting its readiness to power next-generation location intelligence tools.
Founded in 1995, MapmyIndia has long been a leader in India’s mapping and geospatial technology landscape. The company’s “swadeshi” mapping platform serves as the backbone for critical sectors such as logistics, urban governance, mobility, and consumer-facing digital services. Over the decades, it has built a highly detailed digital infrastructure that covers every corner of the country — from highways and cities to rural roads and addresses — enabling both public and private entities to leverage precise, localized mapping data.
The company’s approach aligns with India’s push for technological sovereignty, reducing dependency on foreign mapping services. Following its recent partnership with Zoho to integrate its mapping solutions into enterprise applications, MapmyIndia is now exploring synergies with Perplexity AI to enhance the intelligence layer within mapping and navigation systems. The collaboration could enable AI-powered location search, real-time contextual navigation, and smarter decision-making across industries.
MapmyIndia’s founder, Rakesh Verma, emphasized the company’s commitment to building a self-reliant digital ecosystem. He stated that MapmyIndia is “focused on creating a sovereign tech layer,” underscoring the importance of developing mapping and data platforms owned and controlled within India. Verma also recalled the company’s challenging journey in a market dominated by global players, asserting that Google Maps “hid us for 10 years” through unfair competition — a remark that reflects the difficulties faced by Indian tech enterprises competing with global monopolies.
As MapmyIndia opens its ecosystem to collaborations with AI-first companies like Perplexity, the move marks a significant step toward blending India’s deep mapping expertise with cutting-edge generative AI. Such partnerships could not only redefine how maps are built and used but also strengthen the country’s position in the global digital infrastructure landscape.
