India's 100 Million Weekly ChatGPT Users Cement Its AI Market Power

Ahead of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed a staggering figure: India now has 100 million weekly active users of ChatGPT. This makes the country the platform's second-largest market globally, trailing only the United States.

The disclosure, made in an editorial for the Times of India, underscores India's critical role in the expansion strategies of leading AI firms. OpenAI established a formal office in New Delhi last August and has tailored offerings for the market, such as a low-cost 'ChatGPT Go' tier. Altman specifically noted that India has the world's largest number of student users for ChatGPT, a demographic aggressively courted by all major tech companies.

This growth mirrors a worldwide surge, with ChatGPT reportedly nearing 900 million weekly users. However, Altman's comments arrive as companies and the Indian government grapple with a central question: how to convert massive adoption into broad economic benefit. Initiatives like the national IndiaAI Mission aim to build infrastructure and support startups, but price sensitivity and scaling challenges persist.

'With its focus on access, practical AI literacy, and the infrastructure that supports widespread adoption, India is well positioned to broaden who benefits from the technology,' Altman wrote. He also warned that without equitable access, the economic gains from AI could become concentrated.

The summit itself, attracting global CEOs and political leaders, signals India's rising influence in shaping AI's future. Altman indicated OpenAI will soon announce new Indian partnerships focused on expanding access, suggesting the company's investments there are only deepening.

Source: TechCrunch