India Emerges as AI Powerhouse with Record ChatGPT Adoption

At the eve of the high-profile "India AI Impact Summit," OpenAI CEO Sam Altman dropped a bombshell in The Times of India: the country now boasts 100 million weekly active ChatGPT users, officially securing its position as the platform's second-largest global market after the United States.

Student-Driven Growth Fuels Adoption

OpenAI's strategic moves in India have paid off handsomely. After establishing a New Delhi office last August, the company introduced "ChatGPT Go," a budget-friendly version, coupled with an attractive free one-year access offer. This combination proved irresistible to India's massive student population, who now form the world's largest group of student users for the AI chatbot.

Not to be outdone, Google quickly responded with plans to offer Indian students free Gemini Pro subscriptions starting September 2025. "India represents our highest global usage rate for learning applications," confirmed Google VP Chris Phillips.

The Commercialization Challenge

While user numbers impress (global weekly actives approach 900 million), monetizing this massive Indian user base presents unique hurdles. Altman pointed to infrastructure limitations and market sensitivity as key obstacles absent in developed economies.

The Indian government isn't sitting idle. Through its ambitious "India AI Mission," officials are rapidly expanding computing infrastructure while nurturing local startups. Altman issued a timely warning: without true democratization, AI's economic benefits risk concentrating among a privileged few.

Global Spotlight on New Delhi

The five-day summit has become a who's who of tech leadership, featuring:

• Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei
• Google's Sundar Pichai
• Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani
• High-level delegations from France, UAE, and Brazil

This gathering underscores India's rising influence in shaping global AI policy and technological direction. While OpenAI remains tight-lipped about specific partnership details, Altman hinted at imminent announcements regarding expanded AI accessibility initiatives.

Key Points:

• 100 million weekly users make India ChatGPT's #2 market globally
• Student adoption drives growth through free access programs
• Infrastructure and pricing challenges complicate monetization
• Government pushes "India AI Mission" to boost local ecosystem
• Global tech leaders converge at landmark summit