OpenAI chief Sam Altman plans India visit as AI leaders converge in New Delhi: sources

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, is gearing up for his first trip to India in nearly a year, with plans to arrive in mid-February. This visit coincides with New Delhi's hosting of the inaugural India AI Impact Summit 2026, slated for February 16 to 20. The event is expected to attract prominent figures from the tech world, including executives from Meta, Google, and Anthropic. The upcoming summit will feature a lineup of influential leaders, such as Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Anthropic’s Dario Amodei, as well as key Indian business leaders like Mukesh Ambani of Reliance Industries. While Altman's participation has not yet been officially confirmed, sources suggest that OpenAI is planning to hold private meetings on the summit's sidelines, where Altman is likely to be present. Additionally, OpenAI is organizing a dedicated event in New Delhi on February 19, aimed at engaging venture capitalists and industry executives. Although Altman's visit hasn't been publicly announced, there are indications that plans may still evolve. Other U.S. tech firms are also set to conduct side events throughout the summit week, with Anthropic holding a developers’ day in Bengaluru on February 16, and Nvidia planning an evening gathering in New Delhi. This series of events highlights the growing interest of global AI companies in India's enterprise sector, startup ecosystem, and developer community. Altman's return marks a significant moment for OpenAI, which has been steadily increasing its presence in India, including recent hiring initiatives in New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. India has rapidly become a vital market for American AI companies, with OpenAI recently introducing a more affordable subscription plan, 'ChatGPT Go', aimed at increasing user adoption. Despite challenges in converting interest into paid subscriptions, the country has become the largest market for ChatGPT by downloads and the second-largest by active users. During his visit, Altman is expected to engage with key tech leaders, startup founders, and government officials as OpenAI aims to enhance ChatGPT's enterprise adoption while expanding its mass-market reach. The company has been exploring collaborations across various sectors, including education and media, and is considering India as a potential hub for infrastructure development. The Indian government is optimistic that the upcoming summit will strengthen the nation's position as a significant player in attracting AI investments, with expectations of drawing up to $100 billion in funding. However, challenges such as inconsistent power supply, high energy costs, and water scarcity could hinder the growth of AI infrastructure in the country. Still, the commitment from both the government and private sector to boost local AI capabilities is evident, as initiatives to cultivate homegrown solutions are actively being promoted.