OpenAI Expands to India: New Delhi Office, ChatGPT Go, and Strategic Hires

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.

5 Reasons India Just Got Its Own Version of ChatGPT -- Meet ChatGPT Go

OpenAI is doubling down on one of the fastest-growing tech markets in the world: India. It's where the company has just launched ChatGPT Go, a new subscription tier that gives users access to GPT-5 for just ₹399 a month (about $5). It's cheaper, faster and built to reach millions of people who might never have paid for the standard Plus plan. So why India, and why now? Here are five reasons this launch matters. India has quickly become ChatGPT's second-biggest market after the U.S.; students are using it to prep for exams, professionals are leaning on it at work, and creators are experimenting with it in everything from scripts to small businesses. In other words, the audience is already there and hungry. More than 700 million people in India access the internet mainly through their phones. That makes the country a perfect testing ground for AI tools designed for mobile. If ChatGPT can thrive in a location where it's mostly used on the mobile app, it proves the app can scale to billions of mobile-first users worldwide. The $20 ChatGPT Plus plan is pricey in India, where average income levels are lower than in the U.S. or Europe. At just ₹399 (roughly $5 USD), ChatGPT Go feels like a much more affordable option for students, teachers and small businesses. The move is about making sure a much wider slice of the population can actually use it. OpenAI has been investing in India's AI ecosystem, from funding research at IIT-Madras to providing free licenses for students. By funding research and offering free licenses, OpenAI is making a tangible push to embed itself within India's educational and innovation ecosystem. India isn't waiting around for Silicon Valley to deliver. Startups like BharatGPT and Sarvam AI are building large language models tuned to Indian languages and contexts. By rolling out GPT-5 early and affordably, OpenAI is ensuring that ChatGPT remains at the center of the conversation, even as local rivals gain traction. On the surface, this might appear to be just another pricing tier. However, OpenAI's approach to India highlights the country's growing centrality in the global AI race. With a young, mobile-savvy population and rising local competitors, India is poised to become one of the most significant markets to target for the future of AI.

OpenAI Appoints Key Leads in India as Altman Plans Delhi Trip Next Month | AIM

OpenAI has appointed Sheeladitya Mohanty as marketing lead and Akash Iyer as social lead for India. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman confirmed on X that he will visit India next month. "AI adoption in India has been amazing to watch -- ChatGPT users grew fourfold in the past year -- and we are excited to invest much more in India," he said. This development comes after OpenAI announced 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. OpenAI has appointed Sheeladitya Mohanty as marketing lead and Akash Iyer as social lead for India. Iyer, who previously spent nearly seven years at Netflix India in roles spanning films and series market

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 Distribute 5 Lakh Free ChatGPT Licenses to Indian Students

OpenAI will provide ChatGPT access for teachers in government schools OpenAI Learning Accelerator, a new India-focused initiative, was unveiled by the company on Monday. Through this initiative, the San Francisco-based artificial intelligence (AI) firm aims to build advanced AI research, training, and deployment capabilities among the educators and learners of the country. The AI firm is also collaborating with various stakeholders and providing both funding and free ChatGPT licenses, as part of the initiative. The company's latest move comes just days after it announced plans to open its first office in India by the end of 2025. OpenAI to Provide $500,000 in Funding to IIT Madras for AI Research In a blog post, the company announced and detailed its OpenAI Learning Accelerator. Highlighting the widespread usage of ChatGPT in India, the AI firm said that it wants to ensure that the technology helps students build critical thinking skills and deepen learning instead of being used as a shortcut tool. As part of the initiative, OpenAI announced a research collaboration with IIT Madras, where the former will provide $500,000 (roughly Rs. 4.3 crore) in funding. IIT Madras, in turn, will conduct research to find out how AI can be used to improve learning outcomes and inculcate new teaching methods. The scope of the research will range from pedagogy to cognitive neuroscience. The findings will be shared publicly and will help develop future AI products. As part of the new initiative, OpenAI said it will help teachers and students to design training programmes to build AI literacy, and address the unique needs of the country's education system. The AI firm is partnering with several stakeholders in the education space to distribute five lakh ChatGPT licences and training to students and teachers. As part of a collaboration between the AI firm and the Ministry of Education, the company will provide ChatGPT access to government school teachers, to help with lesson planning, student engagement, and improving learning outcomes. OpenAI will also partner with the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) to provide access to its chatbot across technical institutes in the country to strengthen "digital skills, employability, and practical AI use." It is also collaborating with All Round Improvement in School Education (ARISE) member schools (established for underprivileged students) to offer ChatGPT access to educators. Each of these partners will also work in tandem with OpenAI to design and distribute training programmes for AI literacy among both educators and learners. Further, the stakeholders will also provide access to educational tools such as ChatGPT's Study Mode to the students.

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.

Sam Altman to visit India next month - The Economic Times

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning a visit India in September, as the company is set to open its first office in the country later this year. The company has established a legal entity and is actively hiring a local team to make AI more accessible across the country.OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he will visit India in September as the Microsoft-backed company plans to open an office in its second-largest market. "We are opening our first office in india later this year! And I'm looking forward to visiting next month," Altman posted on X. His announcement came as OpenAI announced plans to bring its operations to India. The company has been established as a legal entity in the county and has begun hiring a local team, Reuters reported on Friday, citing a company 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," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in the statement. As per listings on the OpenAI website, the company is looking to hire for sales three positions in India -- Account Director, Digital Natives; Account Director, Large Enterprise; and Account Director, Strategics. Applicants need to have at least seven years of experience, Bloomberg reported. It currently has one employee in the country -- Pragya Misra, who joined last year and looks after public policy and partnerships here. The company had onboarded former Twitter (now X) India head Rishi Jaitly in 2023 as a senior advisor to engage the government for talks on AI policy. Talking to ET earlier this month, Altman said that "incredibly fast-growing" India can surpass the US to become OpenAI's largest market. ChatGPT's weekly active users in India have quadrupled over the past year. The country ranks among the top five developer markets globally on the OpenAI platform. It is also has the largest number of student users. "We are especially focused on bringing products to India, working with local partners to make AI work great for India, (making) it more affordable for people across the country. We've been paying a lot of attention here, given the rate of growth," the OpenAI CEO had said on the sidelines of the launch of its new model, GPT-5. Earlier this week, the company introduced ChatGPT Go in India, an affordable subscription tier priced at Rs 399 per month (around $4.60). The plan offers a significant upgrade over the free version and is designed to give Indian users wider access to some of ChatGPT's most popular features.

Ashwini Vaishnaw: OpenAI's India entry will power inclusive AI under IndiaAI Mission - The Economic Times

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman had earlier announced that he will be visiting India next month, highlighting that "AI adoption in India has been amazing to watch -- ChatGPT users grew 4x in the past year."Union IT and railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Friday said Bharat is "uniquely positioned to drive the next wave of AI-led transformation" as he welcomed OpenAI's plans to open its first office in India later this year. "As part of the IndiaAI Mission, we are building the ecosystem for trusted and inclusive AI. We welcome OpenAI's partnership in advancing this vision to ensure the benefits of AI reach every citizen," Vaishnaw said in a post on X. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman had earlier announced that he will be visiting India next month, highlighting that "AI adoption in India has been amazing to watch -- ChatGPT users grew 4x in the past year." India launched the IndiaAI Mission earlier this year to strengthen its artificial intelligence stack, including large-scale compute infrastructure, homegrown foundational models, and support for startups and research institutions. Vaishnaw had last month informed the Parliament that India will host the AI Impact Summit in February 2026, highlighting the government's commitment to making AI more accessible.

OpenAI is hiring for these roles in first India office - The Economic Times

OpenAI has officially started hiring in India, with three key roles listed on its careers page: Account Director, Digital Natives; Account Director, Large Enterprise; and Account Director, Strategics. These positions are based in New Delhi, India and focus on sales leadership and customer engagement for the company's products and services. What are the roles? The Digital Natives role is for managing portfolios in tech-forward client segments, Large Enterprise position is to oversee relationships with major business clients and Strategics is for strategic accounts with complex, large-scale AI deployments. This marks the company's first hiring drive in India after it announced on Thursday that it plans to open its inaugural office in the country it claims is its chatbot ChatGPT's second largest market. The move has drawn attention from industry, government, and the global tech community. With the Indian office set to become operational by the end of 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman highlighted the scale and ambition behind this expansion. "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," he said in a statement. He is also set to visit India in September. "ai adoption in india has been amazing to watch--chatgpt users grew 4x in the past year--and we are excited to invest much more in india!" he wrote in a post on X. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed OpenAI's entry, stating, "As part of the IndiaAI Mission, we are building the ecosystem for trusted and inclusive AI. We welcome OpenAI's partnership in advancing this vision to ensure the benefits of AI reach every citizen." OpenAI's India play The ChatGPT maker is zeroing in on India. In a recent podcast with Zerodha cofounder Nikhil Kamath, Altman said the country may become the biggest market for the company, adding that ChatGPT's latest model GPT-5 was built based on feedback from Indian users as well. OpenAI introduced a new, more affordable subscription tier in India called ChatGPT Go, priced at Rs 399 per month (around $4.60). It's a significant upgrade over the free version and is designed to give Indian users wider access to some of ChatGPT's most popular features. This comes after Altman met with Vaishnaw earlier this year and discussed a plan to create a low-cost AI ecosystem. The launch of ChatGPT Go comes at a time when other AI companies are also looking to attract Indian users. Perplexity recently partnered with Airtel to offer free Pro subscriptions, while Google has introduced a year-long free AI Pro plan for Indian students.

OpenAI unveils learning accelerator, India-first initiative; partners with IIT Madras, others - The Economic Times

OpenAI on Monday introduced an India-first initiative that aims to empower educators with AI tools and training, as it announced a new research collaboration with IIT Madras, backed by $500,000 in funding from the ChatGPT-maker. The push on education comes at a time when the company is gearing up to open its first India office in New Delhi later this year. High-profile founder Sam Altman, too, is scheduled to visit the country next month. Through the pact announced on Monday, IIT Madras will conduct long-term studies on how AI can improve learning outcomes, innovate teaching methods, aligned to insights from cognitive neuroscience. Findings will be shared openly and inform future product development. Notably, India also has the largest population of students on ChatGPT worldwide. To cement its commitment to education opportunities through AI in India and across the Asia Pacific, OpenAI has appointed Raghav Gupta as Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific. Gupta brings over two decades of experience in education and consumer technology, most recently as Managing Director for India and Asia Pacific at Coursera. Gupta will lead OpenAI's work to drive education with AI and make OpenAI's tools more accessible to educators, students, and education researchers across India. Over the next six months, OpenAI plans to distribute about half a million ChatGPT licenses and training to educators and students across India through partnerships with the Ministry of Education (MoE), All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), and ARISE member schools, the company said. OpenAI Learning Accelerator, the India-first initiative under the AI Impact Summit, is in line with the company's efforts to drive research, access, and training on AI in education across India. This platform aims to bring advanced AI to India's educators and millions of learners nationwide through AI research, training, and deployment, the company said. Among the partnerships announced on Monday is a new research collaboration with IIT Madras and OpenAI, backed by $500,000 in funding from OpenAI. On teaming up with Ministry of Education (MoE), OpenAI said it is committing to provide ChatGPT access for teachers in government schools (Classes 1-12), supporting lesson planning, student engagement, and improved outcomes, while the AICTE pact is about providing ChatGPT access to technical institutes nationwide, strengthening digital skills, employability, and practical AI use. Each partner will work with OpenAI to design and distribute training programmes that build AI literacy and confidence among educators and students, ensuring the technology is used effectively and responsibly, OpenAI said, adding that the tie-up with ARISE member schools will involve providing ChatGPT access for K-12 educators, enabling more personalised and responsive teaching. AI has incredible potential to empower educators and learners. To realise that potential, we must work side by side with educators and institutions, Leah Belsky, VP of Education at OpenAI, said. "This effort is critical to OpenAI's mission of ensuring AGI benefits humanity, and as such, the launch of OpenAI Learning Accelerator alongside our partners represents one of OpenAI's most significant investments in India's education ecosystem to date," Belsky said. Over the past weeks and months, OpenAI has lined up a string of initiatives developed for the Indian market, including ChatGPT Go, OpenAI Academy, and enhanced Indic language support, among others. Only a few days ago, it announced ChatGPT Go, its new subscription plan priced at Rs 399 a month that packs in increased message limits, image generation and file uploads for users in India. The company also announced that all ChatGPT subscriptions can be paid through UPI, a move that will make it easier for users across India to access OpenAI's advanced AI tools.

Half of ChatGPT users in India below 24, studying on app: OpenAI official - The Economic Times

Half of ChatGPT users in India are below 24 years of age and use the app to study, Leah Belsky, Vice President and General Manager, Education at OpenA,I said on Monday. Indian students also make up a major chunk of global users of ChatGPT's recently launched study mode feature, she said here. "India is home to the largest student population on ChatGPT globally, with millions turning to it for homework help, exam prep, and to explore new ideas," Belsky said. The tech firm plans to offer five lakhs paid ChatGPT licenses and training to teachers and students in government schools, and technical institutions as part of partnerships with the ministry of education and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) respectively, Belsky said. The latest announcement comes days after the company announced it will set up an office in the national capital. This will include ChatGPT access for teachers in government schools (Classes 1-12), to support lesson planning, student engagement, improved outcomes, and in technical institutes nationwide to strengthen digital skills, employability, and practical AI use. The licenses are set to be provided for an initial 6-month period. Planned to be part of the OpenAI Learning Accelerator, an India-first initiative launched on Monday, OpenAI will also provide ChatGPT access for teachers across secondary level classes in member schools of the Association for Reinventing School Education (ARISE). The Indian Institute of Technology Madras and OpenAI has also announced a new research collaboration, backed by $500,000 in funding from OpenAI. Through a memorandum of understanding (MoU), IIT Madras will conduct long-term studies on how AI can improve learning outcomes, fostering innovative teaching methods aligned to insights from cognitive neuroscience, Belsky said. Findings will be shared openly and inform future product development. "These licenses will go to those tiers of government institutions where tuition fee is extremely low, and affordability is lower as well. The intent is to provide access to children or teachers who might be in tier three, tier four cities and rural areas," Raghav Gupta, OpenAI's newly appointed Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific, said. ChatGPT currently provides local language support for 11 Indian languages, he said. The launched GPT-5 model shows significant gains in benchmarks that test Indic language capabilities, the company has said. It recently announced an India-specific subscription tier priced at Rs 399 per month with integrated UPI payments. It has also committed to a nationwide AI literacy program in partnership with the ministry of electronics and information technology.

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)

Want to work at OpenAI? ChatGPT maker begins hiring in India ahead of expansion

Sam Altman to visit India in September ahead of the office launch. OpenAI has already announced its plan for global expansion and its first office setup in India. The company has confirmed plans to establish a base in New Delhi later this year, hinting that it is aiming to tap the growing markets in the globe. Not only that, the ChatGPT maker has already started hiring for key positions ahead of starting its India operations. As per the listings we found on the OpenAI's careers page, the company is looking for three Account Director roles across different verticals including the Digital Narratives, Large Enterprise and Strategics. All of these roles fall under the sales functions but need different requirements, starting at seven years for Digital Narratives and going up to 14 years for Strategics. These positions are full time with a hybrid working model, meaning employees will not be required to attend the office every day. To streamline applications, candidates can apply for a maximum of five roles within 180 days. Taking to X, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated, "We are opening our first office in India later this year! and I'm looking forward to visiting next month. AI adoption in India has been amazing to watch-ChatGPT users grew 4x in the past year-and we are excited to invest much more in India!" For the unversed, India has been among the top markets for OpenAI. In terms of usage, Indian stands on the second position after the United States. He also mentioned that Sam Altman announced that he will visit India in September ahead of the office launch to engage with the local ecosystem. In the meantime, the company has also introduced a new affordable subscription, the ChatGPT Go. The new plan is priced at just Rs 399 per month and offers high usage limits, memory retention, image generation and premium tools. If you believe you have the skills for any of the above positions, go to https://openai.com/careers and select the View Open Roles option. From there select the position you are eligible and tap Apply Now. Now, fill in all of the details, and finally, tap on submit.

OpenAI to give 5 lakh free ChatGPT Plus accounts to students and teachers in India

OpenAI has officially announced a large-scale education initiative in India, where it will provide five lakh free ChatGPT Plus accounts to students and teachers over the next six months. For those who are unaware, this new programme, launched under the OpenAI Learning Accelerator, will make India the first market to benefit from this effort before it expands elsewhere. Speaking of access, it will be available through three primary channels. The Ministry of Education will make the platform available to government school teachers in grades 1-12. The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) will work with India's technology institutes to provide students and faculty with digital and research skills. Meanwhile, ARISE network schools will train K-12 teachers to incorporate AI tools into their daily lessons. Also read: Apple's first foldable phone may arrive in 2026: Four cameras, C2 modem and other expected specs OpenAI has also named Raghav Gupta, former Coursera India and APAC Head, as its Head of Education for India and Asia Pacific. His responsibilities will reportedly include developing relationships with schools, universities, and government institutions while ensuring that AI is used to improve learning outcomes rather than to replace traditional methods. Additionally, OpenAI is investing in research. A $500,000 collaboration with IIT Madras will look into the long-term role of AI in classrooms and its ability to reshape teaching practices. Meanwhile, OpenAI has confirmed that it will expand its global footprint, beginning with India. The company previously announced that it would open its first office in New Delhi later this year. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman will also visit India in September ahead of the office's opening. The company has also introduced the ChatGPT Go subscription for Indian users, which is priced at Rs 399 per month. Buyers can use UPI to purchase a product with a higher daily limit, more memory, and other features.

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.