Known for his sharp political commentaries and viral explainers, Indian YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has now stepped into a very different battlefield, this time in artificial intelligence (AI), with AI Fiesta.
On August 17, Rathee launched AI Fiesta, a new platform that promises to bring ChatGPT 5, Gemini 2.5 Pro, Claude Sonnet 4, Grok 4, and other premium AI models into a unified platform.
In his YouTube launch video, Rathee described AI Fiesta as a platform that brings the world’s most powerful AI models into a single, user-friendly interface. “By doing this, we’ll get the best possible answer to every question instantly,” he said.
AI Fiesta was rolled out to offer features like Prompt Boost to refine questions, Projects to set custom instructions across all AIs, image generation, and audio transcription. Instead of buying each AI subscription separately, which can cost ₹10,000 per month, users would be able to access six AI models for just ₹999 per month. The platform is compatible with web browsers and Android devices, with an iOS app scheduled for release soon.
Rathee shared, “All these premium models together would normally cost $110 per month…with AI Fiesta, you’ll get them at only $12 per month.” Furthermore, Rathee added a free Prompt Book worth ₹5,000 and exclusive access to a private AI community.
Why Build AI Fiesta?
Rathee explained that the idea of AI Fiesta came from problems he faced daily. He said, “Most people in our country are not able to be a part of this AI revolution because of the cost.” Individually, premium AI subscriptions like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Grok cost $20–$30 each, putting them out of reach for many, especially Indian users. AI Fiesta was designed to automate the process and bring AI within everyone’s reach and budget.
But it wasn’t just about the money. Rathee noted, “Some AIs are better at some tasks than others…if we wanted the best quality of work, we would need multiple subscriptions.” He shared that his team often had to juggle different AI tools, copying and pasting answers, and switching tabs repeatedly.
Criticism of Users on AI Fiesta
After its launch though, more than excitement around AI Fiesta, a number of people on X criticized the startup claiming that it’s nothing more than just a “Weekend Project.” Some argued that Rathee isn’t building a new AI from scratch, but rather reselling existing AI models under one platform.
A user on X commented, “Dhruv Rathee made 100s of videos questioning Indian innovation & creativity. But when it was his turn to show some in his own startup, he straight up fumbled. Bro is literally reselling existing AI models and calling it a startup.”
Another user called AI Fiesta “disappointing,” arguing it’s neither new nor revolutionary. The user also compared AI Fiesta with rival app t3.chat, a Y Combinator–backed startup. This program offers more AI models, bigger token limits, a free tier, and a discounted price of ₹699/month.
Not just this, but many users have claimed that AI Fiesta is misleading people. They say it’s a free plan that promises access to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Deepseek, but in reality, all responses come only from ChatGPT, and not GPT-5 as advertised, but GPT-4.
As much as there may be cynicism stoked by his earlier association with some questionable cryptocurrency ventures, Rathee stands behind the mission of AI Fiesta. He reassured the audience that it’s “100% legal and safe.”
Dhruv Rathee’s Risky Crypto Endorsements
Born in 1994 in Haryana, Rathee began as an engineer and environmental scientist before becoming one of the most followed YouTubers in India in 2013. His channel soon became the go-to for richly researched, visually informative explainers.
But, Rathee has also faced his share of controversies as he promoted cryptocurrency concepts like Etherlite and PNP Coin, which later resulted in serious losses for investors. Critics accused him of backing shady ventures, with some customers reportedly losing lakhs of rupees.
In August 2022, he faced criticism for promoting PNP Coin. Several users on X, including the account Mikku, accused him of misleading his audience by presenting the coin as a solid investment. Critics pointed out that Rathee stated PNP Coin was worth roughly ₹70. However, during the pre-ICO stage, it was trading at ₹12-13.
Additionally, PNP Coin wasn’t listed on any crypto tracking platforms like CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko. Moreover, the project also boasted of being the “first regulated cryptocurrency,” but no government had ever recognized or backed it.
This wasn’t the first time Rathee’s endorsements sparked backlash. Back in 2021, his Etherlite (ETL) sponsored video attracted pointed criticism after the project proved to be a traditional pump-and-dump. Positioned as a new-generation blockchain that delivered faster and cheaper transactions, Etherlite deflated in value in a matter of time, losing more than 99% of its value in months.
While AI Fiesta aims to make premium AI tools more accessible for Indian users, questions around originality, transparency, and Rathee’s past endorsements continue to cast a shadow. Critics are calling it out as a smart repackaging rather than true innovation. Ultimately though, AI Fiesta’s success relies on not just price and features, but also whether it can build trust in an environment that is already deeply skeptical.
Also Read: AI Agents Are Now Creating Bitcoin Wallets Humans Cannot Access
