India Could Potentially Emerge as OpenAI's Primary Market, According to CEO Sam Altman
In a significant move, OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence (AI) research company, has announced the launch of its latest AI system, GPT-5, in India. According to Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, this development marks a new chapter in the company's journey, aiming to make AI more accessible and affordable for a wide range of users [1][2].
India, recognised as one of the most dynamic countries in the world for AI development, is set to benefit greatly from this move. Jason Kwon, Chief Strategy Officer of OpenAI, stated that GPT-5 will support the IndiaAI Mission's 'FutureSkills' pillar by expanding access to AI skills training for various learners [3].
GPT-5 is a unified system that excels in various areas such as coding, math, writing, health, visual perception, and more. It uses a smart, efficient model for most questions, a deeper reasoning model for harder problems, and a real-time router to decide the best approach based on conversation type, complexity, tool needs, and user intent. The system is designed to provide the best answer every time [4].
To cater to a broader audience, OpenAI has introduced localized pricing plans like ChatGPT Go, priced affordably (around Rs 399 per month), to address cost barriers raised by Indian startup founders and developers during CEO Sam Altman's visit in early 2025. This move demonstrates OpenAI's commitment to making its tools effective and affordable across different income levels and linguistic groups [1][2].
In addition to pricing adjustments, OpenAI is partnering with local stakeholders and government bodies to boost AI adoption and education. One of the key initiatives is the 'OpenAI Academy India,' an education platform designed to broaden AI skills training across the country. This program targets diverse learners, including students, developers, educators, civil servants, nonprofit leaders, and small business owners, supporting India’s 'FutureSkills' pillar [3].
OpenAI's strategy in India also involves enhancing GPT-5 with improved reasoning and expanded support for 12 Indian languages. The company plans to improve AI accessibility and affordability by significantly expanding its presence, reducing costs of AI tools, and improving support for Indian languages [1][2][4].
Moreover, OpenAI, in partnership with the IndiaAI mission, launched the first international expansion of its education platform in India in June. This expansion is part of OpenAI's efforts to make AI more relevant and affordable for a wide range of users, including businesses, developers, students, and everyday consumers [1][3][4].
As part of its commitment to democratizing AI access, OpenAI also plans to collaborate with local partners to make their products more effective and affordable for Indian users. Sam Altman, OpenAI's CEO, is scheduled to visit India in September to further discuss these plans and collaborations [1].
In summary, OpenAI's approach in India involves cutting AI tool costs and offering localized pricing to increase affordability, enhancing GPT-5 with improved reasoning and expanded support for 12 Indian languages, partnering with local stakeholders and government bodies to boost AI adoption and education, establishing training platforms like OpenAI Academy India to build AI skills nationwide, and ensuring alignment with Indian AI regulatory frameworks [1][3][4]. These combined efforts illustrate OpenAI’s commitment to democratizing AI access in one of the world’s most dynamic and rapidly growing AI markets.
References: [1] OpenAI. (2025). OpenAI Expands in India, Launches GPT-5 and OpenAI Academy India. Retrieved from https://openai.com/blog/openai-expands-in-india/ [2] TechCrunch. (2025). OpenAI Launches GPT-5 and Announces Plans to Expand in India. Retrieved from https://techcrunch.com/2025/06/01/openai-launches-gpt-5-and-announces-plans-to-expand-in-india/ [3] The Economic Times. (2025). OpenAI Partners with IndiaAI Mission to Boost AI Adoption and Education. Retrieved from https://economictimes.com/news/technology/openai-partners-with-indiaai-mission-to-boost-ai-adoption-and-education/ [4] Financial Express. (2025). OpenAI Launches GPT-5, Targets India as Second-Largest Market. Retrieved from https://www.financialexpress.com/technology/openai-launches-gpt-5-targets-india-as-second-largest-market/2306348/
- OpenAI's latest system, GPT-5, is expected to support India's AI development, aligning with the IndiaAI Mission's 'FutureSkills' pillar by expanding access to AI skills training for various learners.
- To cater to a wider audience, OpenAI has introduced affordable pricing plans like ChatGPT Go for its AI tools, aiming to make them more accessible and effective for users across different income levels and linguistic groups.
- In addition to pricing adjustments, OpenAI is collaborating with local partners and government bodies to increase AI adoption and education, with initiatives such as the OpenAI Academy India, a platform designed to broaden AI skills training across India.
- As part of its commitment to democratizing AI access, OpenAI plans to enhance GPT-5 with improved reasoning and expanded support for 12 Indian languages, aiming to make AI more relevant and affordable for businesses, developers, students, and everyday consumers.
