India Becomes ChatGPT’s Second-Largest Market with 100 Million Weekly Users

 

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman speaking about ChatGPT’s rapid growth in India ahead of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.


India has officially become one of the largest markets for ChatGPT, with 100 million weekly active users, according to Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI. The announcement, made ahead of the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, signals the country’s rapidly growing influence in the global artificial intelligence ecosystem.

Altman revealed the milestone in an article published in The Times of India, noting that India is now ChatGPT’s second-largest user base after the United States. The disclosure highlights how central India has become to OpenAI’s long-term global expansion plans.

A Strategic Push into India



The milestone follows months of groundwork by OpenAI in the country. In August 2025, the company opened its New Delhi office to strengthen partnerships and local engagement. Recognizing India’s price-sensitive market, OpenAI introduced a sub-$5 ChatGPT Go tier, which was later made free for a year for Indian users to drive adoption.

India’s demographic advantage — a young population and more than a billion internet users — has made it an attractive growth engine for global technology firms. With ChatGPT’s worldwide weekly active users reaching around 800 million as of October 2025 and reportedly nearing 900 million, India’s 100 million contribution represents a significant share of global engagement.

Students Lead the Adoption Wave

One of the most notable trends highlighted by Altman is the strong uptake among students. India now has the largest number of student ChatGPT users globally, making education a critical pillar of AI adoption in the country.

The student segment has become a competitive battleground for global AI companies. Google has also intensified its focus on Indian learners, offering a free one-year subscription to its AI Pro plan in September 2025. Additionally, Sundar Pichai’s company has seen strong adoption of its Gemini platform in India for educational purposes, reflecting the broader AI race unfolding in classrooms and universities.

By embedding AI tools into learning workflows, companies are cultivating long-term users who are likely to carry these platforms into their professional lives.

The India AI Impact Summit Spotlight

The announcement comes as OpenAI prepares to formally participate in the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The event is expected to gather leading voices from across the AI ecosystem, including Dario Amodei of Anthropic, global tech executives, policymakers, and business leaders.

Indian industrial leaders such as Mukesh Ambani and Nandan Nilekani are also expected to participate, underscoring India’s ambition to position itself at the center of global AI conversations.

The summit reflects India’s growing geopolitical and technological importance, as nations compete to shape how artificial intelligence is governed and deployed worldwide.

Turning Adoption into Economic Impact

While user growth is impressive, monetization and infrastructure remain key challenges. India’s price-sensitive consumer base makes revenue generation more complex compared to developed markets. Infrastructure constraints, including computing capacity and digital access gaps, further complicate large-scale AI deployment.

To address these issues, the Indian government has launched initiatives such as the IndiaAI Mission, a national program designed to expand computing infrastructure, support AI startups, and accelerate public-sector adoption of artificial intelligence.

Altman emphasized that ensuring broad and equitable access is critical. He warned that without inclusive adoption, AI’s economic gains could become concentrated in too few hands — both within India and globally.

A Defining Moment for Democratic AI

In his remarks, Altman suggested that India’s scale presents both opportunity and responsibility. With its focus on practical AI literacy and widespread digital access, the country is well-positioned to influence how “democratic AI” evolves in emerging markets.

OpenAI has also signaled plans to deepen engagement with the Indian government, with new partnerships expected to be announced soon. While details remain undisclosed, the emphasis will reportedly be on widening access and enabling practical use cases across sectors.

As India accounts for an increasingly significant portion of global AI usage, its policies, user behavior, and innovation ecosystem could shape the direction of AI development worldwide.

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