OpenAI Reports 100 Million Weekly Active ChatGPT Users in India, Becomes Second-Largest Market Globally

India has emerged as a critical market for OpenAI, with 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users, making it the company's second-largest user base globally after the United States, CEO Sam Altman announced ahead of the government-hosted India AI Impact Summit.

Altman disclosed ChatGPT's growing adoption metrics in India through a published article in the Times of India, as OpenAI prepares to formally participate in the five-day India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The CEO is attending the event alongside senior executives from several leading global AI companies.

Strategic Market Positioning

The substantial user growth reflects OpenAI's strategic focus on India's demographic advantages: a young population and over one billion internet users. The company has implemented several India-specific initiatives to capture this market:

• Established a New Delhi office in August 2025 following extensive groundwork
• Launched a sub-$5 ChatGPT Go tier tailored for the price-sensitive Indian market
• Extended free one-year access to ChatGPT Go for all Indian users
• Achieved the largest global student user base in India

Global Context and Competitive Landscape

The India disclosure comes as ChatGPT's worldwide usage has experienced significant growth, reaching 800 million weekly active users as of October 2025, with reports indicating the platform is approaching 900 million users. This expansion positions OpenAI competitively against other major AI providers targeting the Indian market.

Google has similarly prioritized India's education sector, offering Indian students a complimentary one-year subscription to its AI Pro plan in September 2025. According to Google's VP and GM for Education Chris Phillips, India represents the highest global usage of Gemini for educational purposes.

Monetization Challenges and Infrastructure Considerations

Despite widespread adoption, ChatGPT's rapid growth in India underscores significant challenges for AI companies operating in the region: converting high user engagement into sustainable economic returns. The country's price-sensitive market dynamics and infrastructure limitations have complicated monetization strategies compared to developed economies.

Altman emphasized India's potential role in democratizing AI access: "With its focus on access, practical AI literacy, and the infrastructure that supports widespread adoption, India is well positioned to broaden who benefits from the technology and to help shape how democratic AI is adopted at scale."

However, he cautioned that "uneven access and adoption could concentrate AI's economic gains in too few hands," warning that India risks forfeiting opportunities to advance democratic AI in emerging markets globally.

Government Initiatives and Future Partnerships

Indian government programs such as the IndiaAI Mission—a national initiative focused on expanding computational infrastructure, supporting startups, and accelerating AI integration in public services—aim to address existing gaps in the ecosystem.

Altman indicated that OpenAI plans to deepen governmental engagement, announcing forthcoming partnerships designed to expand AI accessibility across India, though specific details were not disclosed.

India AI Impact Summit

The five-day India AI Impact Summit is expected to convene a diverse array of global technology and political leaders, including:

• Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic
• Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google
• Mukesh Ambani and Nandan Nilekani, prominent Indian business figures
• Political leaders including Emmanuel Macron, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva

The summit underscores India's ambition to establish itself as a central player in global AI policy discussions and development. For global AI firms, the event highlights how India's massive user base is translating into significant influence over the technology's evolution trajectory.

OpenAI did not respond to requests for comment regarding future India-specific initiatives or partnership details.

Sources:
Times of India - India's AI Head Start
India AI Impact Summit Official Website
Times of India - AI Summit Attendees