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

In a significant development for artificial intelligence, India boasts an impressive 100 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, positioning the country as one of OpenAI’s largest international markets. Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, made this announcement ahead of an AI summit hosted by the Indian government. Altman elaborated on the rising popularity of ChatGPT in India through an article in the Times of India, as OpenAI gears up to participate in the India AI Impact Summit set to commence in New Delhi. The summit, which runs for five days, will see Altman alongside top executives from various leading AI firms. This surge in usage is attributed to OpenAI’s strategic focus on India’s youthful demographic and its vast internet user base exceeding one billion. Following months of preparation, the company established its office in New Delhi in August 2025, tailoring its services to fit the budget-conscious Indian market with offerings like the under $5 ChatGPT Go tier, which was subsequently made free for a year. Altman highlighted that India is now ChatGPT’s second-largest user base, trailing only the United States, underscoring the significance of the South Asian nation in OpenAI's global expansion strategy. The platform's total active users worldwide have reached approximately 800 million as of October 2025, with projections nearing 900 million. Students are playing a crucial role in this growth, with India recognized as home to the largest number of student users of ChatGPT globally. This demographic has become increasingly important for AI companies, as competitors strive to integrate their technologies into educational frameworks. Google has also directed its efforts toward Indian students, offering a complimentary one-year subscription to its AI Pro plan in September 2025. According to Chris Phillips, Google’s VP and General Manager for Education, India leads globally in Gemini usage for educational purposes. Altman emphasized that India’s commitment to accessibility and practical AI literacy positions it uniquely to ensure that the benefits of technology are widely distributed, shaping how democratic AI is adopted. Despite this rapid growth, Altman pointed out that AI firms face challenges in translating widespread adoption into tangible economic benefits. Initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission aim to enhance computing capabilities, support startups, and expedite AI integration into public services, yet the country’s infrastructure and price sensitivity complicate monetization efforts compared to developed nations. Altman warned that without careful management, India risks missing a crucial opportunity to advance democratic AI in emerging markets, as uneven access could concentrate economic benefits in a limited segment of society. He indicated that OpenAI is looking to strengthen its collaboration with the Indian government, with plans for new partnerships to broaden AI access and empower more users to effectively utilize these tools. The India AI Impact Summit is anticipated to draw a diverse array of technology and political leaders, including prominent figures such as Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and influential Indian business leaders like Mukesh Ambani and Nandan Nilekani. Global political figures, including Emmanuel Macron and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, are also expected to participate, reflecting India’s ambition to become a central player in the global discourse on AI. For global AI companies like OpenAI, this summit highlights the increasing influence of India’s vast user base on the future of technology development.