OpenAI Expands into India with New Delhi Office, Targeting Second-Largest Market

OpenAI announces New Delhi office as it expands footprint in India | TechCrunch

OpenAI has announced plans to open its first office in India, just days after launching a ChatGPT plan tailored for Indian users, as it looks to tap into the country's rapidly growing AI market. On Friday, the company said it would set up a local team in India and open a corporate office in the capital, New Delhi, in the coming months. The move builds on OpenAI's recent hiring efforts in the region. In April 2024, the company appointed former Truecaller and Meta executive Pragya Mishra as its public policy and partnerships lead in India. OpenAI also brought on former Twitter India head Rishi Jaitly as a senior advisor to help facilitate discussions with the Indian government on AI policy. India -- the world's second-largest internet and smartphone market after China -- is a natural fit for OpenAI, which is competing with tech giants like Google and Meta, as well as AI upstarts like Perplexity, all looking to tap into the country's massive user base. The company said that it has started hiring a local team to "focus on strengthening relationships with local partners, governments, businesses, developers, and academic institutions." It plans to get feedback from Indian users to make its products relevant for the local audience and even build features and tools specifically for the country. "Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country and to build AI for India, and with India," said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, in a statement. OpenAI also announced it would host its first Education Summit in India this month and its first Developer Day in the country later this year. While India is clearly an essential market for OpenAI, the company faces key challenges -- including how to convert free users into paying subscribers. Like other major AI players, it must navigate the monetization hurdle in a price-sensitive South Asian market. Earlier this week, the company introduced its sub-$5 ChatGPT plan called ChatGPT Go, priced at ₹399 per month (approximately $4.75), making it the first ChatGPT plan in India to attract the masses. This came just days after arch-rival Perplexity partnered with Indian telco giant Bharti Airtel to give Airtel's more than 360 million subscribers access to Perplexity Pro for 12 months. OpenAI also faces challenges in integrating with Indian businesses. In November, Indian news agency Asian News International (ANI) sued OpenAI for allegedly using its copyrighted news content without permission. A group of Indian publishers joined that case in January. Nonetheless, the Indian government is actively promoting AI across its departments and aims to strengthen the country's position on the global AI map -- momentum that OpenAI hopes to leverage. "India has all the ingredients to become a global AI leader -- amazing tech talent, a world-class developer ecosystem, and strong government support through the IndiaAI Mission," Altman said. India is not OpenAI's first Asian office location. The company previously opened offices in markets including Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. OpenAI rival Anthropic also considered Japan a higher-priority market than India in the continent and recently set up its office in Tokyo rather than New Delhi. One of the reasons these AI companies do not prioritize India as an early market is the difficulty in securing enterprise customers, a Silicon Valley-based investor source recently told TechCrunch. "OpenAI's decision to establish a presence in India reflects the country's growing leadership in digital innovation and AI adoption," said Indian IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, in a prepared statement. "As part of the IndiaAI Mission, we are building the ecosystem for trusted and inclusive AI, and we welcome OpenAI's partnership in advancing this vision to ensure the benefits of AI reach every citizen."

OpenAI to launch first India office in New Delhi this year

BENGALURU, Aug 22 (Reuters) - ChatGPT parent OpenAI will open its first India office in New Delhi later this year, deepening its push in its second-largest market by user numbers. OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab, has been established as a legal entity in India and has begun hiring a local team, the company said in a statement shared with Reuters on Friday. India is a critical market for ChatGPT, where it launched its cheapest yet monthly plan at $4.60 just this week, targeting the nearly one billion internet users in the world's most populous nation. OpenAI faces legal challenges in India, with news outlets and book publishers accusing the firm of using their content without permission to help train ChatGPT. The company has denied any wrongdoing. "Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country and to build AI for India, and with India," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in the statement. The company faces strong competition in India from rivals like Google's Gemini and AI startup Perplexity, both of which have launched offerings that make their advanced plans free for many users in the market. India has the largest population of student users on ChatGPT, and weekly active users here have quadrupled in the past year, OpenAI said in newly shared market data on Friday. Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab * Suggested Topics: * Artificial Intelligence Munsif Vengattil Thomson Reuters Based in Bengaluru, Munsif Vengattil leads Reuters' technology news coverage in India. He tracks themes at the intersection of tech, business, and labor. A reporter for nine years, Munsif has written extensively on India's electronics manufacturing aspirations and its tech policy space, AI and election interference, satellite internet, streaming wars, and data breaches. His stories also focus on investigating corporate strategies and revealing India-specific initiatives and challenges of the biggest of tech firms - from Apple, Facebook, and Google, to Foxconn, Samsung, and Nvidia.

OpenAI Confirms Plans to Open First India Office in New Delhi | AIM

India is OpenAI's second-largest market for ChatGPT after the United States, and among the fastest-growing. OpenAI has confirmed that it will open its first office in India later this year in New Delhi, marking its official entry into the country. The company has already established a local entity and started hiring a dedicated team to strengthen partnerships with government, businesses, developers, and academic institutions. India is OpenAI's second-largest market for ChatGPT after the United States, and among the fastest-growing. According to new data shared by the company, weekly active users in India grew more than four times over the past year. The country also ranks among the top five developer markets globally and has the largest population of students using ChatGPT worldwide. "The level of excitement and opportunity for AI in India is incredible. India has all the ingr

OpenAI expands into India with new Delhi headquarters

The company hired Pragya Mishra and Rishi Jaitly to lead policy partnerships and government discussions shaping India's AI regulatory landscape OpenAI has unveiled plans to establish its inaugural Indian office in New Delhi, a strategic move aimed at capitalizing on India's burgeoning artificial intelligence market. This announcement follows the recent launch of a ChatGPT subscription plan specifically tailored for Indian users. The company announced on Friday its intention to create a local team and establish a corporate office in New Delhi within the coming months. This decision is a continuation of OpenAI's efforts to expand its presence in the region. Pragya Mishra, formerly of Truecaller and Meta, was appointed as OpenAI's public policy and partnerships lead in India in April 2024. Her role is to navigate the regulatory environment and forge strategic alliances. In addition to Mishra's appointment, Rishi Jaitly, the former head of Twitter India, has been engaged as a senior advisor. Jaitly's responsibilities include facilitating discussions with the Indian government regarding AI policy, contributing to the development of a supportive regulatory framework. These strategic hires signal OpenAI's commitment to engaging with local stakeholders and shaping the future of AI in India. OpenAI to stop removing older models after 4o user outcry India, holding the position of the world's second-largest market for internet and smartphone users, presents a substantial opportunity for OpenAI. The company is in competition with technology giants such as Google and Meta, along with emerging AI companies like Perplexity, all seeking to leverage India's extensive user base. This competitive landscape underscores the significance of OpenAI's strategic investments in the region. OpenAI stated that it has initiated the recruitment of a local team focused on strengthening relationships with partners, governmental bodies, businesses, developers, and academic institutions. The company intends to gather feedback from Indian users to tailor its products to the local context and develop features and tools specifically designed for the Indian market. This localized approach is intended to ensure that OpenAI's offerings are relevant and accessible to Indian users. Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, conveyed his enthusiasm for the expansion in a released statement: "Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country and to build AI for India, and with India." Altman's statement underscores the company's dedication to contributing to India's AI ecosystem and making its technologies available to a broader audience. OpenAI has also announced its plans to host its inaugural Education Summit in India this month.

OpenAI Begins Hiring Ahead of Plans to Open First Office in India

* OpenAI has published three job postings in India * OpenAI recently announced the ChatGPT Go plan * The company currently only has one employee in India OpenAI has confirmed that it will open its first office in India by the end of this year. Announced by a company executive, the office is set to open in New Delhi. Additionally, the company has also begun hiring new employees, before it sets up operations in the country. OpenAI currently has only a single employee in India. The development comes after the company recently announced a new, cheaper alternative to the ChatGPT Plus and Pro subscription plans in the country, making the AI chatbot more accessible to users at a lower price point. OpenAI's First Office in India Will Be Located in New Delhi OpenAI's Head of Communications for the Asia-Pacific region, Jake Wilczynski, confirmed via a LinkedIn post that the AI company is expanding its presence in India by opening its first office in New Delhi. Along with the confirmation, the company executive also said that the first office will be opened by the end of 2025. Wilczynski said that India is ChatGPT's second-largest market by the number of users, after the US. He added that the number of weekly active users of ChatGPT in India jumped by more than four times in "just the past year". OpenAI also lists India among the top five developer markets globally, he said, while adding that India has the highest number of students on ChatGPT. Pragya Misra, Public Policy Head at OpenAI, is currently the only OpenAI staffer in the country. She was also the company's first hire in the country, and is responsible for coordinating public policy affairs between OpenAI and the government, along with other entities in the country. OpenAI has already published three India-specific job postings on its website. All three roles are for the sales department, the first being the Account Director for Digital Natives, followed by the positions of Account Director, Large Enterprise, and Account Director, Strategics. By its admission, India is the second-largest market for OpenAI's ChatGPT. Hence, it has also been focusing on increasing its presence in the country. The tech firm recently announced that it is introducing a new, relatively affordable subscription plan, dubbed ChatGPT GO, in the Indian market. OpenAI's ChatGPT Plus and Pro plans currently cost Rs. 1,999 and Rs. 19,900 per month, respectively. Meanwhile, the new ChatGPT Go plan has been priced at Rs. 399 per month. The plan carries some added benefits over the free plan, like higher message limits, larger file uploads, and expanded image generation capabilities.

OpenAI to launch first India office in New Delhi this year - The Economic Times

OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, has been established as a legal entity in India and has begun hiring a local team, the company said. India is a critical market for ChatGPT, where it launched its cheapest yet monthly plan at $4.60 just this week.ChatGPT parent OpenAI will open its first India office in New Delhi later this year, deepening its push in its second-largest market by user numbers. OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, has been established as a legal entity in India and has begun hiring a local team, the company said in a statement shared with Reuters on Friday. India is a critical market for ChatGPT, where it launched its cheapest yet monthly plan at $4.60 just this week, targeting the nearly one billion internet users in the world's most populous nation. OpenAI faces legal challenges in India, with news outlets and book publishers accusing the firm of using their content without permission to help train ChatGPT. The company has denied any wrongdoing. "Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country and to build AI for India, and with India," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in the statement. The company faces strong competition in India from rivals like Google's Gemini and AI startup Perplexity, both of which have launched offerings that make their advanced plans free for many users in the market. India has the largest population of student users on ChatGPT, and weekly active users here have quadrupled in the past year, OpenAI said in newly shared market data on Friday.

OpenAI Expands Into 2nd-Largest Market With India Office Launch After Introducing $4.60 ChatGPT Go Subscription - Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG), Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL)

Microsoft Corp. MSFT-backed OpenAI will establish its first India office in New Delhi later this year, targeting its second-largest user market with localized operations and competitive pricing strategies. Strategic Market Entry OpenAI has established legal entity status in India and begun local team hiring, according to company statements shared with Reuters on Friday. The artificial intelligence company cited India's critical market position, where weekly active users have quadrupled year-over-year. "Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country," CEO Sam Altman stated. Competitive Pricing Initiative The expansion coincides with OpenAI's launch of ChatGPT Go, a $4.60 monthly subscription tier exclusive to India. The plan offers 10x higher message limits, 10x more image generations, and 10x more file uploads compared to free tier access. ChatGPT Go positions between OpenAI's free offering and $20 ChatGPT Plus subscription, targeting India's nearly one billion internet users with localized rupee pricing and UPI payment integration. See Also: Bill Gates Once Said ChatGPT Would Impact Many Office Jobs -- Fast Forward To Today, Have His Words Come True? Market Competition and Legal Challenges OpenAI faces competition from Alphabet Inc.'s GOOGL GOOG Gemini and AI startup Perplexity, both offering advanced features free to Indian users. The company also confronts legal challenges from news outlets and publishers alleging unauthorized content usage for ChatGPT training. Growth Metrics and User Base India represents ChatGPT's largest student user population globally, according to the report. The market's strategic importance reflects the broader tech sector's focus on South Asian expansion, as companies seek growth beyond saturated Western markets. Read Next: Nvidia Suspends China-Focused H20 Chip As Beijing Pushes For Domestic Alternatives, Analysts Warn Of Weaker Q3 Outlook: Report Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Photo Courtesy: Meir Chaimowitz on Shutterstock.com GOOGAlphabet Inc$202.230.80%Stock Score Locked: Edge Members Only Benzinga Rankings give you vital metrics on any stock - anytime. Unlock RankingsEdge RankingsMomentum70.98Growth77.69Quality81.51Value51.03Price TrendShortMediumLongOverviewGOOGLAlphabet Inc$201.120.69%MSFTMicrosoft Corp$504.550.06%Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

OpenAI Chooses New Delhi for Its First India Office

According to media reports, OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is preparing to open its first office in India. The new office will be located in New Delhi and is expected to be operational by the end of 2025. This marks a significant step in OpenAI's global expansion and underlines India's growing role as one of the most important markets for artificial intelligence adoption. As widely reported, India has rapidly emerged as OpenAI's second-largest market after the United States, with millions of students, developers, and professionals using ChatGPT regularly for learning, work, and innovation. The country now hosts the largest student user base in the world and is counted among the top five developer communities globally. This fast-growing adoption made India a natural choice for OpenAI to deepen its engagement and build a stronger presence in the region.

OpenAI Sets Up First India Office, Starts Hiring Local Talent

OpenAI is now looking to establish a local team to develop strong partnerships within businesses, government, developers, and academia. , co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, has praised India's tech ecosystem. "The level of excitement and opportunity for AI in India is incredible. India has all the ingredients to become a global AI leader -- amazing tech talent, a world-class developer ecosystem, and strong government support through the India AI Mission," he said during a media interaction. OpenAI's India team will focus on making AI more accessible and developing solutions that cater specifically to the Indian market. OpenAI is also launching initiatives focusing on the Indian user base. Presented at Rs. 399 per month, aims to integrate with UPI. The OpenAI Academy, in collaboration with India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, is scaling up to become a national-level organization. Apart from these, the model now offers greater support for Indian languages. The Study Mode feature facilitates student learning through interaction and provides stepwise explanations, possessing all the potential as a tool in education.

OpenAI to launch first India office in New Delhi this year

BENGALURU (Reuters) -ChatGPT parent OpenAI will open its first India office in New Delhi later this year, deepening its push in its second-largest market by user numbers. OpenAI, which is backed by Microsoft, has been established as a legal entity in India and has begun hiring a local team, the company said in a statement shared with Reuters on Friday. India is a critical market for ChatGPT, where it launched its cheapest yet monthly plan at $4.60 just this week, targeting the nearly one billion internet users in the world's most populous nation. OpenAI faces legal challenges in India, with news outlets and book publishers accusing the firm of using their content without permission to help train ChatGPT. The company has denied any wrongdoing. "Opening our first office and building a local team is an important first step in our commitment to make advanced AI more accessible across the country and to build AI for India, and with India," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in the statement. The company faces strong competition in India from rivals like Google's Gemini and AI startup Perplexity, both of which have launched offerings that make their advanced plans free for many users in the market. India has the largest population of student users on ChatGPT, and weekly active users here have quadrupled in the past year, OpenAI said in newly shared market data on Friday. (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)

OpenAI to set up first India office in New Delhi, hiring underway

Affordable ChatGPT Go plan launched at Rs 399/month for Indian users. ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is preparing to open a corporate office in New Delhi within the coming months. This will be the company's first formal base in India, and the company has already started hiring to expand its local team, as per a report by Reuters. Jake Wilczynski, APAC head at OpenAI, on LinkedIn, stated, "OpenAI is expanding to India! Later this year, we'll open our first India office in New Delhi." He also stated that weekly active users of ChatGPT in India increased by more than 4x in just the past year, and it ranks among the top 5 developer markets globally on the OpenAI platform. He also talked about the opportunity, stating India has the largest population of students on ChatGPT worldwide. Currently, OpenAI, as per the reports, has only one Indian employee- Pragya Misra, who heads public policy and partnerships and joined last year. Now, with the larger workforce on the ground, the company seems to be expanding the operations and aims to deepen its collaboration with the government, businesses, and developers in India, home to 1.4 billion people and a strong base of technology talent. The company has pledged to work alongside the federal government on its $1.2 billion IndiaAI Mission, which seeks to develop both large and small language models tailored to the region. The planned expansion also highlights OpenAI's intent to play a role in shaping early AI regulations in a market that offers vast opportunities but has historically posed challenges for global tech firms. As per the company, India is currently the second largest market for ChatGPT in terms of users. The company has also introduced an affordable monthly subscription plan called ChatGPT Go priced at Rs 399 for Indian users, aiming to increase its paid user base while offering better value to the Indian users. However, the tech giant will continue to offer free tier and premium plans as usual. Additionally, ChatGPT has also stated that OpenAI will host its first developer day in India later this year.