India has 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users, making the country one of OpenAI’s largest markets globally, CEO Sam Altman said ahead of a government-hosted AI summit.
As OpenAI prepares for its participation in the five-day India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi starting Monday, CEO Sam Altman highlighted the surge of ChatGPT users in India. In an article published in the Times of India, Altman noted that India has emerged as ChatGPT’s second-largest market after the United States. He is attending the summit, joined by executives from top AI companies globally.
OpenAI, like many tech firms, is focusing on India’s youth and its vast online population to drive growth. Following months of groundwork, OpenAI opened a New Delhi office in August 2025. To cater to price-sensitive consumers, the company introduced a sub-$5 ChatGPT Go tier that was later offered free for a year to Indian users.
In his discussion, Altman emphasized the significance of students in this growth, revealing that India accounts for the highest number of ChatGPT student users globally. This trend is mirrored across the industry, with major firms vying for integration of their AI solutions in educational settings. Google has targeted Indian students with a complimentary one-year AI Pro subscription beginning in September 2025. Furthermore, India leads in using Gemini for education, as noted by Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president for education.
“India is well positioned to democratize AI benefits due to its focus on access, practical literacy, and supporting infrastructure,” Altman stated.
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While ChatGPT’s rapid rise is noteworthy, it presents challenges regarding lasting economic impacts for AI firms in India. Government initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission aim to enhance computing capacity and foster AI adoption in public services. Still, the price-sensitive landscape complicates monetization and widespread deployment compared to developed nations.
“India risks losing a crucial chance to drive democratic AI growth in emerging markets,” Altman cautioned, stressing that unequal access may limit economic benefits to a select few.
Altman also indicated OpenAI’s intention to strengthen its collaboration with the Indian government, signaling upcoming partnerships to broaden AI access. Although specifics were not disclosed, he mentioned the goal would be to extend reach and facilitate practical AI tool usage for more individuals.
The India AI Impact Summit is set to attract significant technology and political leaders, including Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and prominent Indian business figures like Mukesh Ambani. Attendees also include global political leaders like Emmanuel Macron, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, showcasing India’s ambition to be a central player in global AI discussions.
For global AI entities like OpenAI, this summit underscores the growing significance of India’s user base in shaping future technology advancements.
OpenAI did not provide comments when approached for further information.
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