OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is set to open its first office in India later this year, signalling its commitment to expanding in one of the fastest-growing AI markets in the world, as reported by Reuters.
The office, located in New Delhi, will house a local team to support OpenAI’s operations and strengthen engagement with Indian users.
The move comes after the company registered a legal entity in India and began recruiting staff for the new office.
CEO Sam Altman emphasised the importance of the expansion, saying, “Opening an office in New Delhi allows us to collaborate more closely with the Indian tech community and make our AI tools more accessible to users across the country.”
India has become a key market for OpenAI, with its nearly one billion internet users representing a huge potential audience.
In addition, the company recently introduced a more affordable ChatGPT subscription plan in India, priced at $4.60 per month, to encourage wider adoption among students and professionals.
However, OpenAI faces legal scrutiny in India. Several news outlets and publishers have accused the company of using copyrighted material to train its AI models, claims the company has denied. Despite this, OpenAI is moving forward with its plans, underlining its long-term commitment to the country.
“We see incredible opportunity in India,” Altman said. “Our goal is to provide access to advanced AI responsibly and to work alongside local developers, students, and organisations to build solutions that benefit everyone.”
OpenAI’s decision comes as the AI market in India becomes increasingly competitive, with tech giants like Google and local startups offering alternative AI tools. Still, India currently represents the largest student user base for ChatGPT worldwide, with weekly active users quadrupling over the past year, according to Reuters.