OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has highlighted India’s significant role in the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape, noting that the country is OpenAI’s second-largest market. He emphasized that India’s user base has tripled over the past year, reflecting the nation’s rapid adoption and development of AI technologies.
During a recent visit to India, Altman engaged in discussions with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw about the country’s AI initiatives. They explored India’s strategy to establish a comprehensive AI infrastructure, encompassing GPUs, models, and applications. Altman expressed OpenAI’s willingness to collaborate in these areas, underscoring the company’s commitment to supporting India’s AI ambitions.
Altman praised India’s advancements across various levels of the AI stack, including hardware (chips), foundational models, and diverse applications. He stated, “India is an incredibly important market for AI in general, for OpenAI in particular. It’s our second biggest market. Tripled users here last year, but mostly seeing what people in India are building with AI at all levels of the stack, chips, models, you know, all of the incredible applications.”
Reflecting on India’s technological progress, Altman remarked, “I think India should be one of the leaders of the AI revolution. But it’s really quite amazing to see what the country has done… embraced the technology and is building the entire stack of things on top of it.”
This visit marks Altman’s first to India since 2023 and comes as OpenAI navigates legal challenges in the country, including a notable lawsuit concerning copyright issues. Altman’s engagement with Indian officials and acknowledgment of the country’s rapid AI adoption underscore India’s emerging leadership in the global AI arena.