India Challenges AI Status Quo: Responds to OpenAI CEO's Dismissive Remarks

Sam Altman vs Anupam Mittal: Shaadi.com founder slams OpenAI CEO's 'hopeless' AI remark about India after DeepSeek's success

In a bold statement on Thursday, Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com, fired back at OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, following his 2023 remarks dismissing the idea of India competing with Silicon Valley in AI development. Mittal referenced the impressive progress of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model, which has outperformed OpenAI's ChatGPT on the iOS App Store, as a testament to the fact that challengers can, indeed, emerge. "'It is completely hopeless to compete with us' Sam Altman's words to India in 2023. While India hasn't done it yet, I'm glad somebody made him less smug. Apna time bhi aayega," Mittal wrote on X. Mittal's reaction comes after the resurfacing of a 2023 video in which Altman expressed skepticism about the potential of AI startups outside the United States. During an ET Now summit, Altman was blunt when asked whether an Indian team could compete with OpenAI. "Look, the way this works is, we're gonna tell you it's totally hopeless to compete with us on training foundation models, you shouldn't try -- and it's your job to try anyway," Altman said, adding, "I think it is pretty hopeless, but..." His dismissive comments were met with backlash at the time, but the recent success of DeepSeek has reignited the debate. DeepSeek, a model developed by a Chinese startup for just $6 million, has rivaled OpenAI's costly models, despite the challenges posed by limited access to advanced semiconductors. OpenAI and Microsoft have invested billions into AI development, yet DeepSeek has shown that smaller players can make significant strides in the field. DeepSeek's rise has extended its impact beyond China, prompting India to take bold steps in the AI arena. In response to the surge of AI innovation globally, India is now committed to building its own foundational large language model (LLM), akin to ChatGPT, but with a unique focus on local needs, languages, and cultural nuances. Ashwini Vaishnaw, India's IT Minister, recently announced plans to develop a homegrown AI system, ensuring that it remains free from the biases often seen in foreign AI models. This ambitious project will help India reduce its reliance on AI giants like OpenAI and Google, bringing a localized approach to artificial intelligence. "This is a major leap in the world of AI," said Vaishnaw. "We are aiming to create an AI that understands the diversity and culture of India and is capable of meeting the unique needs of the country." To achieve this, India is setting up a cutting-edge AI infrastructure, including a facility with 18,000 graphics processing units (GPUs), the essential hardware for AI development. Despite the challenges posed by US sanctions limiting access to high-end GPUs, the Chinese-backed DeepSeek has already shown that breakthrough AI can be achieved with far fewer resources than big tech companies like OpenAI. India's plans for AI are not limited to building a foundational language model. The government is focused on creating an infrastructure capable of supporting innovation across various sectors, with a particular emphasis on privacy and data security. This initiative includes setting up AI data centers in Odisha, which will play a pivotal role in strengthening India's AI capabilities. In an era where data security and local language support are critical, India's approach to AI development is aimed at ensuring greater control over how AI is used within the country. The government aims to have the first version of its AI model ready within the next ten months, with the long-term goal of reducing dependence on foreign AI models, further solidifying India's standing as a global leader in AI. Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath recently commented on the broader implications of India's technological trajectory, pointing out that India has historically struggled with a short-term mindset. Kamath emphasized that China's rapid economic and technological growth, particularly since the 1980s, stands in stark contrast to India's slower pace in adopting long-term solutions. "India has often addressed problems with short-term fixes, but when it comes to AI, we need long-term vision," Kamath said. He highlighted the growing success of DeepSeek as a reminder that efficiency and innovation are crucial in the AI race.

Shaadi.com's Anupam Mittal Fires Back at Sam Altman's 'Hopeless' AI Remarks After DeepSeek's Success

In a bold statement on Thursday, Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com, fired back at OpenAI's CEO Sam Altman, following his 2023 remarks dismissing the idea of India competing with Silicon Valley in AI development. Mittal referenced the impressive progress of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model, which has outperformed OpenAI's ChatGPT on the iOS App Store, as a testament to the fact that challengers can, indeed, emerge. "'It is completely hopeless to compete with us' Sam Altman's words to India in 2023. While India hasn't done it yet, I'm glad somebody made him less smug. Apna time bhi aayega," Mittal wrote on X. Mittal's reaction comes after the resurfacing of a 2023 video in which Altman expressed skepticism about the potential of AI startups outside the United States. During an ET Now summit, Altman was blunt when asked whether an Indian team could compete with OpenAI. "Look, the way this works is, we're gonna tell you it's totally hopeless to compete with us on training foundation models, you shouldn't try -- and it's your job to try anyway," Altman said, adding, "I think it is pretty hopeless, but..." His dismissive comments were met with backlash at the time, but the recent success of DeepSeek has reignited the debate. DeepSeek, a model developed by a Chinese startup for just $6 million, has rivaled OpenAI's costly models, despite the challenges posed by limited access to advanced semiconductors. OpenAI and Microsoft have invested billions into AI development, yet DeepSeek has shown that smaller players can make significant strides in the field. The DeepSeek Phenomenon: A Wake-Up Call for India DeepSeek's rise has extended its impact beyond China, prompting India to take bold steps in the AI arena. In response to the surge of AI innovation globally, India is now committed to building its own foundational large language model (LLM), akin to ChatGPT, but with a unique focus on local needs, languages, and cultural nuances. Ashwini Vaishnaw, India's IT Minister, recently announced plans to develop a homegrown AI system, ensuring that it remains free from the biases often seen in foreign AI models. This ambitious project will help India reduce its reliance on AI giants like OpenAI and Google, bringing a localized approach to artificial intelligence. "This is a major leap in the world of AI," said Vaishnaw. "We are aiming to create an AI that understands the diversity and culture of India and is capable of meeting the unique needs of the country." To achieve this, India is setting up a cutting-edge AI infrastructure, including a facility with 18,000 graphics processing units (GPUs), the essential hardware for AI development. Despite the challenges posed by US sanctions limiting access to high-end GPUs, the Chinese-backed DeepSeek has already shown that breakthrough AI can be achieved with far fewer resources than big tech companies like OpenAI. India's AI Ambitions: Building for the Future India's plans for AI are not limited to building a foundational language model. The government is focused on creating an infrastructure capable of supporting innovation across various sectors, with a particular emphasis on privacy and data security. This initiative includes setting up AI data centers in Odisha, which will play a pivotal role in strengthening India's AI capabilities. In an era where data security and local language support are critical, India's approach to AI development is aimed at ensuring greater control over how AI is used within the country. The government aims to have the first version of its AI model ready within the next ten months, with the long-term goal of reducing dependence on foreign AI models, further solidifying India's standing as a global leader in AI. Zerodha founder Nithin Kamath recently commented on the broader implications of India's technological trajectory, pointing out that India has historically struggled with a short-term mindset. Kamath emphasized that China's rapid economic and technological growth, particularly since the 1980s, stands in stark contrast to India's slower pace in adopting long-term solutions. "India has often addressed problems with short-term fixes, but when it comes to AI, we need long-term vision," Kamath said. He highlighted the growing success of DeepSeek as a reminder that efficiency and innovation are crucial in the AI race. In conclusion, as India prepares to launch its own AI revolution, the debate surrounding Sam Altman's 2023 comments has gained new relevance. With the rise of models like DeepSeek and India's ambitious plans for local AI development, the global AI landscape is poised for significant shifts. The message is clear: India is ready to rise to the challenge, and as Mittal aptly put it, "Apna time bhi aayega."