New Delhi: AI research company OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has officially set up a local unit in India and announced plans to open its first office in New Delhi later this year. The move comes as ChatGPT’s popularity in India has quadrupled in weekly active users over the past year, making the country one of OpenAI’s fastest-growing and most significant markets.
Calling India a “global AI leader in the making”, OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman said, “The level of excitement and opportunity for AI in India is incredible. India has all ingredients to become a global AI leader—amazing tech talent, a world-class developer ecosystem, and strong government support through the IndiaAI Mission. Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country and to build AI for India, and with India.”
Why India Matters for OpenAI
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India is ChatGPT’s second largest market by users.
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ChatGPT’s weekly active users in India have quadrupled in the last year.
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India ranks among the Top 5 global developer markets on OpenAI’s platform.
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India has the largest population of students using ChatGPT worldwide.
OpenAI has already set up an Indian subsidiary and begun hiring a local team to strengthen partnerships with governments, businesses, developers, and academic institutions.
India-Specific Offerings
As part of its India focus, OpenAI has rolled out initiatives tailored for local users:
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ChatGPT Go: An India-specific subscription at ₹399/month with integrated UPI payments.
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OpenAI Academy: A nationwide AI literacy program in partnership with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY).
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Indic Language Support: The new GPT-5 model shows major improvements in Indian languages.
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Study Mode: A feature that guides students with step-by-step learning support.
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed the move, saying, “OpenAI’s decision to establish a presence in India reflects the country’s growing leadership in digital innovation and AI adoption. As part of the IndiaAI Mission, we are building the ecosystem for trusted and inclusive AI, and we welcome OpenAI’s partnership to ensure the benefits of AI reach every citizen.”
OpenAI will also host its first Education Summit in India later this month, followed by its first Developer Day in India later this year.
