OpenAI Deepens India Push: ChatGPT Hits 111 Milion Downloads, Rs 399 Plan, Jobs And Data Center Plans—What You Need To Know

OpenAI is accelerating its presence in India, which has emerged as one of the most important markets for its flagship product, ChatGPT AI chatbot.

India has long been a prime destination for US tech majors, with Google, Meta, and others investing heavily to tap into the country’s massive and youthful population, CNBC reported.

OpenAI’s push was underscored when CEO Sam Altman visited New Delhi in February.

During his trip, he met with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to discuss collaboration and noted that India had already become OpenAI’s second-largest market in terms of users.

Altman later praised the pace of AI adoption in India, calling it “amazing to watch.”

In a post on X earlier this year, he added, “We love to see the explosion of creativity—India is outpacing the world.”

ChatGPT’s Rapid Growth

ChatGPT has recorded remarkable growth in India. The app was downloaded 10.2 million times in August alone, compared to 2.5 million downloads during the same month last year, according to analytics firm Appfigures.

Since launch, ChatGPT has been downloaded 111 million times in India, surpassing the 80 million downloads registered in the US.

Although downloads don’t necessarily equal active users, the figures highlight OpenAI’s accelerating trajectory.

The growth also outpaces rivals like Google’s Gemini and Anthropic’s Claude.

The nearest competitor, Perplexity, reported 6.4 million downloads in August, far behind ChatGPT.

India-Specific Products

While India’s user base is massive, the market is highly price-sensitive. Data from Appfigures shows Indian users have spent $21.3 million on ChatGPT so far, compared to $784 million spent by U.S. users.

To address affordability, OpenAI launched ChatGPT Go in August. The plan costs 399 rupees (around $4.53) per month, designed specifically for India’s cost-conscious consumers.

Infrastructure and Hiring

According to a Bloomberg report, OpenAI is scouting for a location in India to set up a data center with at least 1-gigawatt capacity.

The project would form part of the company’s larger Stargate infrastructure initiative.

OpenAI has also announced plans to establish a local office in India. It is currently hiring for three sales roles.

Alongside, the company revealed an education programme offering funding for AI research and half a million ChatGPT licenses for educators and students.

Challenges in India

Despite its rapid rise, OpenAI faces hurdles. Indian homegrown startups such as Sarvam AI and Krutrim are emerging challengers, while US rivals like Google and Meta remain strong competitors.

Geopolitical factors may also play a role. Trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi could complicate the landscape if there’s backlash against American tech firms.

Additionally, OpenAI is embroiled in a legal dispute with news agency Asian News International (ANI), which has accused the company of using copyrighted material unlawfully.

The case is being closely watched as a test of how copyright laws apply in the AI age.

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Also Read: OpenAI Takes On Google: ChatGPT To Now Offer Real-Time Web Searches Without Login