India Reaches 100 Million Weekly Active ChatGPT Users, Says OpenAI CEO

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman announced that India now has 100 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, making the country the platform’s second‑largest market after the United States. The growth is driven largely by students, and OpenAI has tailored its pricing and launched a free‑for‑a‑year tier to suit India’s price‑sensitive environment. Altman highlighted the nation’s importance at an upcoming AI summit in New Delhi, where the company plans to deepen partnerships with the Indian government and expand AI access across the country.

Rapid Growth in India

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman disclosed that India has reached 100 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, positioning the nation as the second‑largest user base for the service worldwide, behind only the United States. The surge reflects a broader global increase in ChatGPT usage, which has climbed to 800 million weekly active users overall and is approaching 900 million. Indian users, especially students, constitute the largest segment of student users globally, underscoring the country’s pivotal role in the platform’s expansion.

Tailored Strategy for a Price‑Sensitive Market

To accommodate India’s price‑sensitive market, OpenAI introduced a sub‑$5 ChatGPT Go tier, which was later offered free for a year to Indian users. The company also opened a New Delhi office in August 2025 after extensive groundwork, signaling a long‑term commitment to the region. Altman emphasized that these adjustments are part of a broader strategy to broaden access, promote practical AI literacy, and support the infrastructure needed for widespread adoption.

Government Engagement and Economic Challenges

Altman noted that OpenAI will soon announce new partnerships aimed at expanding AI access across India, although specific details were not provided. The announcement comes ahead of the five‑day India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, where OpenAI executives will join leaders from other major AI firms and political figures. The summit is expected to address challenges such as translating high user adoption into sustained economic impact, especially given India’s infrastructure constraints and price sensitivity.

India’s government initiatives, including the IndiaAI Mission, aim to expand computing capacity, support startups, and accelerate AI adoption in public services. Altman warned that uneven access could concentrate AI’s economic gains in too few hands, highlighting the need for democratic AI deployment at scale.

Competitive Landscape and Student Focus

Other AI companies are also targeting Indian students. Google, for example, offered a free one‑year subscription to its AI Pro plan for Indian students in September 2025 and reported that India accounts for the highest global usage of its Gemini model for learning. This competition underscores the importance of the student segment as a growth engine for AI tools.

Future Outlook

Altman’s comments suggest that OpenAI views India as a central player in its global strategy, with plans to deepen collaboration with the Indian government and continue adapting its offerings to local market conditions. The upcoming summit will likely serve as a platform for announcing new initiatives that aim to broaden AI reach and reinforce India’s influence on the future development of artificial intelligence worldwide.