Dhruv Rathee’s AI Fiesta: Innovation, Scam, or Just a Resale?

Dhruv Rathee's AI Fiesta sparks heated debate—innovation breakthrough or repackaged hype?

THE CORE CONTROVERSY

Critics question whether this 'fiesta' delivers genuine AI advancement or merely slaps fresh branding on existing tech. Supporters point to engagement metrics—though specific numbers remain conspicuously absent from Rathee's presentations.

THE FINANCIAL ANGLE

Venture capitalists circle while retail investors wonder if they're buying innovation or just expensive marketing—because nothing says 'cutting-edge AI' like influencer-backed tokenomics.

BOTTOM LINE

The market will ultimately decide whether this fiesta fuels real progress or just another speculative bubble in the endless carnival of tech entrepreneurship.

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. 

•First Dhruv Rathee scammed his subscribers with a fake crypto coin named PNP which didn’t even launch and people lost lakhs of rupees.

•Then he scammed his subscribers with another fake coin named Etherlite which got rugpulled, losing 99% of its value and his subscribers lost… pic.twitter.com/0rnI9TORyh

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.

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