OpenAI CEO Sam Altman praised India's rapid AI adoption at the India AI Impact Summit 2026, calling it the world's fastest-growing ChatGPT market with 100 million weekly users. He hailed India as a potential full-stack AI leader, announcing expanded partnerships, free tool access, and strategies for grassroots innovation and global influence.
Sam Altman, OpenAI CEO, praised India's swift AI embrace at the India AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi, calling it the world's fastest-growing market for ChatGPT with 100 million weekly users. He positions India as a potential full-stack AI leader, announcing expanded partnerships and grassroots strategies for access, adoption, and agency.
Key Developments
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India ranks as OpenAI's second-largest user base after the US, with students forming the biggest global cohort on ChatGPT and top Prism usage for research.
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Altman highlighted OpenAI's commitment to build AI in India, with India, and for India, including free tool access regardless of income or tech familiarity.
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The company opened its Delhi office last year and trained over 200 nonprofit leaders across four cities to boost efficiency using ChatGPT.
Summit Insights
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At Bharat Mandapam from February 16, Altman described India's tech ecosystem as amazing, predicting it will shape global AI with huge influence.
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He outlined a three-part plan: Access for all tools, Adoption in schools and businesses, Agency to empower decision-making and innovation.
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Altman visits next week for government partnerships to broaden AI benefits amid calls for regulation, which he endorses.
Future Outlook
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India leads AI adoption speed, outpacing others, with potential for new, better jobs despite market shifts.
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OpenAI eyes further expansion this year, leveraging India's scale, talent, and ambition to drive full-stack leadership from chips to applications.
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This positions India central to AI's global revolution, fostering innovation at grassroots levels.
Sources: NDTV, India Today, The Tribune India, India TV, Deccan Chronicle