India has 100M weekly active ChatGPT users, Sam Altman says

India has 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users, making it OpenAI's second-largest market after the US, as highlighted by CEO Sam Altman. This milestone comes ahead of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, where Altman notes India's young population and high student user count drive growth, despite challenges in monetization and infrastructure. OpenAI aims to enhance its partnership with India to expand AI access.

Key Points

• India has 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users, second only to the US.
• Sam Altman presented these figures before the India AI Impact Summit.
• OpenAI opened a New Delhi office in August 2025 to facilitate their entry into the Indian market.
• The introduction of a sub-$5 ChatGPT Go tier, later made free for a year for Indian users, is tailored for India's price-sensitive market.
• Indian students represent the largest segment of ChatGPT users, showcasing the demand for AI in education.
• Challenges exist in monetization and large-scale deployment due to India's unique market dynamics.
• Altman emphasized the need for equitable AI access to avoid concentrating benefits in a few hands.

Relevance

• The surge in AI adoption in India aligns with global IT trends focusing on accessibility and democratization of technology.
• The India AI Mission aims to support startups and enhance AI integration in public services, reflecting government initiatives to bolster AI infrastructure.
• Similar initiatives by companies like Google, which offers free AI tools for students, indicate a competitive landscape for AI education and learning.

The impressive growth of ChatGPT in India signals the country's potential as a global AI hub, although significant challenges remain. OpenAI and other firms must continue to focus on equitable access and practical applications of AI to truly benefit the diverse Indian populace.