New Delhi: OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, on Friday announced that it will open its first office in India later this year, choosing New Delhi as its base. The move comes as the country witnesses a surge in the adoption of the company’s AI tools.
The office will support the government’s IndiaAI mission and help strengthen partnerships with local stakeholders. It will also enable OpenAI to better serve Indian users, including students, educators, developers and businesses who rely on its technology for learning, creativity and problem-solving.
“The level of excitement and opportunity for AI in India is incredible. India has all the ingredients to become a global AI leader—amazing tech talent, a world-class developer ecosystem, and strong government support through the IndiaAI Mission,” said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. “Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country and to build AI for India, and with India.”
India has become ChatGPT’s second-largest user base after the US and is among its fastest-growing markets, with weekly active users rising more than fourfold in the past year. The country also ranks among the top five developer markets on the OpenAI platform and hosts the largest student community using ChatGPT worldwide.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed the move, saying, “OpenAI’s decision to establish a presence in India reflects the country’s growing leadership in digital innovation and AI adoption. With strong investments in digital public infrastructure, AI talent, and enterprise-scale solutions, India is uniquely positioned to drive the next wave of AI-led transformation.”
While the exact location of the office is yet to be confirmed, OpenAI has already registered an entity in India and started building a local team. This team will focus on collaboration with the government, businesses, developers and academic institutions, and on designing features and tools tailored for India to make AI more affordable and accessible.
OpenAI’s technology is already being used by Indian businesses and institutions in areas such as agriculture, recruitment and governance. To deepen engagement, the company will host its first Education Summit in India this month, followed by its first Developer Day later this year.
OpenAI has also begun hiring for various roles in the country, with more details on the office and its upcoming activities expected in the months ahead.