OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT and a global leader in artificial intelligence, has officially established its India entity and is preparing to open its first office in New Delhi later this year. The move marks a significant milestone in OpenAI’s global expansion strategy and underscores India’s emergence as a key market for AI innovation, talent, and adoption.
The announcement was made by OpenAI’s Asia-Pacific head Jake Wilczynski and confirmed by CEO Sam Altman, who praised India’s tech ecosystem, developer base, and government support. With India now ranking as ChatGPT’s second-largest market by users—after the United States—the company is accelerating its local hiring and deepening partnerships across academia, enterprise, and government.
🧭 Why India? A Strategic AI Powerhouse
India’s rapid digital transformation, robust developer community, and proactive government initiatives have positioned it as a global AI hub. Weekly active users of ChatGPT in India have grown more than fourfold in the past year, and the country now hosts the largest student user base on the platform worldwide.
| Metric | India’s Ranking Globally |
|---|---|
| ChatGPT User Base | 2nd (after US) |
| Developer Market on OpenAI | Top 5 |
| Student Users on ChatGPT | Largest globally |
| Weekly Active User Growth (YoY) | 4x increase |
OpenAI’s decision to establish a local presence reflects its commitment to “build AI for India, and with India,” as Altman stated.
📊 India Office: Location, Hiring, and Expansion Plans
OpenAI has registered a legal entity in India and begun hiring for its New Delhi office. The local team will focus on:
- Strengthening relationships with government, businesses, and developers
- Building India-specific features and tools
- Supporting AI literacy and education initiatives
- Enhancing Indic language capabilities in GPT models
| Expansion Area | Objective |
|---|---|
| Local Hiring | Build India-based AI team |
| Developer Engagement | Host India’s first Developer Day |
| Education Outreach | Launch OpenAI Academy in partnership with MeitY |
| Language Support | Improve GPT-5 performance in Indic languages |
| Product Localization | Design tools tailored to Indian users |
The company has also announced its first Education Summit in India, aimed at empowering students and educators with AI-driven learning tools.
🔍 ChatGPT Go: India-Specific Subscription Model
To make advanced AI more accessible, OpenAI has launched ChatGPT Go—a localized subscription plan priced at ₹399/month. The plan integrates UPI payments and offers enhanced usage limits, making it the most affordable tier globally.
| Plan Name | Monthly Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT Go | ₹399 | 10x usage vs. free tier, UPI integration |
| ChatGPT Plus | ₹1,999 | Priority access, faster responses |
| ChatGPT Pro | ₹19,900 | Enterprise-grade usage, premium support |
This pricing strategy reflects OpenAI’s intent to democratize AI access across India’s diverse user base.
🧠 IndiaAI Mission: Government Collaboration and Policy Alignment
OpenAI’s India expansion aligns with the federal government’s ₹10,000 crore IndiaAI Mission, which aims to build a trusted and inclusive AI ecosystem. The mission focuses on:
- Developing large and small language models tailored to Indian contexts
- Creating datasets for Indic languages and regional use cases
- Supporting startups and research institutions
- Establishing AI centers of excellence
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed OpenAI’s partnership, stating that India is uniquely positioned to lead the next wave of AI-led transformation.
| IndiaAI Mission Pillar | OpenAI’s Contribution |
|---|---|
| Language Model Development | GPT-5 Indic support, regional datasets |
| AI Literacy | OpenAI Academy, Study Mode for students |
| Startup Ecosystem | Developer Day, API access, mentorship |
| Public Infrastructure | Collaboration on AI governance frameworks |
OpenAI’s local team will also engage in shaping early AI regulations and ethical standards in India.
📉 Indic Language Support and Study Mode: AI for Learning
OpenAI’s GPT-5 model now shows significant gains in understanding and generating content in Indic languages, including Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, and Marathi. This enhancement is critical for expanding AI’s reach in rural and semi-urban India.
The newly launched Study Mode feature guides users through interactive learning with step-by-step explanations, personalized responses, and adaptive questioning. It has gained strong traction among students and educators across India.
| Feature Name | Purpose | Target Audience |
|---|---|---|
| GPT-5 Indic Support | Multilingual AI access | Regional users |
| Study Mode | AI-powered learning assistant | Students, educators |
These tools are part of OpenAI’s broader vision to make AI a catalyst for inclusive education and skill development.
🧠 Local Partnerships: Academia, Startups, and Enterprises
OpenAI’s India team will collaborate with:
- Academic institutions for AI research and curriculum development
- Startups for co-creating India-specific solutions
- Enterprises for deploying AI in sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and governance
| Sector | AI Use Case | Partner Type |
|---|---|---|
| Agriculture | Crop prediction, smart irrigation | Startups, NGOs |
| Healthcare | Diagnostic tools, patient engagement | Hospitals, AI labs |
| Governance | Citizen services, data analytics | Government bodies |
| Education | Personalized learning, teacher support | Schools, EdTech |
These partnerships will help OpenAI tailor its offerings to India’s unique challenges and opportunities.
📌 Conclusion
OpenAI’s decision to set up its India unit and begin local hiring marks a transformative moment in the country’s AI journey. With ChatGPT usage surging, government support accelerating, and a vibrant tech ecosystem in place, India is poised to become a global leader in artificial intelligence.
By investing in local talent, building India-specific tools, and collaborating with stakeholders across sectors, OpenAI is not just expanding its footprint—it’s co-authoring the future of AI in India. As Sam Altman aptly put it, this is AI “for India, and with India.”
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Disclaimer: This article is based on publicly available news reports and official statements as of August 22, 2025. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, hiring, or policy advice.
