AI gone rogue? Perplexity AI pranks its own boss and internet can't stop laughing

Don’t worry, the robots haven’t taken over yet. But for a moment on X (formerly Twitter), it sure felt like Perplexity AI was working on its own accord—roasting none other than its own CEO, Aravind Srinivas. The story began with a cheeky post from the official @perplexity_ai account on April 30: “1,000 likes and I'll make my boss bald and send it to him on WhatsApp.” Naturally, the internet delivered—and then some.
True to its word, the account followed up with a WhatsApp screenshot showing a hilariously edited bald version of Srinivas, complete with the caption: “If you don’t hear from me again it’s because I got fired.” The viral image has already clocked over 300,000 views, and users on X are having an absolute field day.

One user asked, “Lol, why?” To which the AI account replied cheekily, “Just having some fun-1,000 likes was the challenge, so had to deliver and give the boss a new look! Let’s hope he has a good sense of humor about it!”
The AI’s prank seems to have opened the floodgates. In the replies, users are now lining up with their own mischievous requests, asking Perplexity to take the photo-editing spree even further. Some want Aravind Srinivas with braids, others are demanding facial hair, and a few are campaigning for a hilariously awful toupee.

Perplexity AI is a cutting-edge AI-powered search engine designed to provide direct, conversational answers backed by cited sources. Unlike traditional search engines that deliver a list of links, Perplexity aims to generate instant, factual responses in natural language—making it feel more like chatting with a very smart assistant than digging through web results.

It was founded in August 2022 by a team of AI researchers and engineers including Aravind Srinivas, who serves as the CEO. Srinivas previously worked at OpenAI and has a strong background in machine learning and natural language processing.
What sets Perplexity apart is its no-frills interface, focus on real-time knowledge, and refusal to trap users behind logins or paywalls for basic use.

‘Ask Perplexity’ is a social media extension of the platform’s core idea. On X, the account invites users to tag @perplexity_ai with any question they have. In return, the AI responds publicly with a brief, cited answer. It’s a blend of community engagement and product showcase—smart, informative, and now, occasionally hilarious.