What's Happening?
OpenAI's ChatGPT has reached 100 million weekly active users in India, making it the second-largest user base after the United States. This growth is part of OpenAI's strategy to expand its global presence, particularly in India, which has a large young population and over a billion internet users. The company opened an office in New Delhi in August 2025 and introduced a sub-$5 ChatGPT Go tier, which was later made free for a year for Indian users. CEO Sam Altman emphasized the significant role of students in driving this adoption, as India has the largest number of student users of ChatGPT globally. The announcement comes ahead of the India AI Impact Summit, where OpenAI plans to deepen its engagement with the Indian government.
Why It's Important?
The rapid adoption
of ChatGPT in India underscores the country's growing influence in the global AI landscape. For OpenAI and other AI firms, India's vast user base represents a critical market for expansion and innovation. The focus on students highlights the potential for AI to transform education and learning processes. However, the challenge remains in translating widespread adoption into sustained economic impact, given India's price-sensitive market and infrastructure constraints. The Indian government's initiatives, such as the IndiaAI Mission, aim to address these challenges by expanding computing capacity and supporting startups.
What's Next?
OpenAI plans to announce new partnerships with the Indian government to expand AI access across the country. The India AI Impact Summit will bring together global technology and political leaders, emphasizing India's ambition to be a central player in AI discussions. The summit will likely influence how AI technologies are adopted and regulated in India and beyond. OpenAI's engagement with the Indian government could lead to more tailored AI solutions that address local needs and challenges.
