OpenAI CEO Sam Altman announced that India boasts 100 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, establishing the nation as one of the company’s largest markets worldwide, a statement made prior to a government-hosted AI summit.
Altman detailed ChatGPT’s expanding presence in India in an article published in the Times of India on Sunday. This precedes OpenAI’s formal participation in the five-day India AI Impact Summit, which commences Monday in New Delhi. Altman is scheduled to attend the event alongside senior executives from many of the world’s prominent AI organizations.
This expansion occurs as OpenAI, similar to other major AI companies, targets India’s vast young demographic and over a billion internet users to fuel its international growth. The creator of ChatGPT established an office in New Delhi in August 2025 following several months of preparatory work in the country. To cater to India’s cost-sensitive market, OpenAI has adjusted its strategy, including the introduction of a ChatGPT Go tier priced under $5, which was subsequently made free for a year for Indian users.
In his piece, Altman stated that India represents ChatGPT’s second-largest user base globally, trailing only the United States, underscoring the South Asian nation’s increasing importance in OpenAI’s worldwide strategy. This revelation coincides with a global surge in ChatGPT usage, with the platform having reached 800 million weekly active users by October 2025 and is reportedly approaching 900 million.
Altman further emphasized the significant role of students in boosting adoption, noting that India has the highest number of student users for ChatGPT globally.
Indian students have emerged as a crucial growth segment for major AI companies generally, as competitors strive to integrate their tools into educational settings and learning processes. Google has also targeted this market, providing Indian students with a complimentary one-year subscription to its AI Pro plan in September 2025. Separately, Chris Phillips, Google’s vice president and general manager for education, mentioned last month that India accounts for the highest global usage of Gemini for learning.
Altman articulated, “With its focus on access, practical Al literacy, and the infrastructure that supports widespread adoption, India is well positioned to broaden who benefits from the technology and to help shape how democratic AI is adopted at scale.”
ChatGPT’s rapid expansion also highlights a broader obstacle for AI firms in India: converting widespread usage into sustainable economic benefits. Indian governmental initiatives, such as the IndiaAI Mission – a national scheme designed to expand computing power, support startups, and hasten AI adoption in public services – aim to bridge these disparities. However, the country’s price-sensitive market and infrastructure limitations have complicated monetization and extensive deployment compared to more developed economies.
“Given India’s size, it also risks forfeiting a vital opportunity to advance democratic AI in emerging markets around the world,” Altman cautioned, warning that unequal access and adoption could result in AI’s economic advantages being concentrated among too few individuals.
Altman also indicated OpenAI’s intention to deepen its collaboration with the Indian government, stating that the company would soon unveil new partnerships aimed at broadening AI access nationwide. While he provided no specific details, he affirmed that the objective would be to extend reach and enable more individuals to effectively utilize AI tools.
The India AI Impact Summit is anticipated to attract a diverse group of global technology and political figures, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and prominent Indian business leaders such as Mukesh Ambani and Nandan Nilekani. Political dignitaries including Emmanuel Macron, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva are also expected to attend, highlighting India’s ambition to establish itself as a central participant in international AI discussions.
For global AI companies, including OpenAI, the summit emphasizes how India’s extensive user base is translating into increasing influence over the development of artificial intelligence technology.
OpenAI did not provide a response to a request for comment.