OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has confirmed plans to visit India in September as the company prepares to open its first office in New Delhi. The move highlights India’s growing significance in OpenAI’s global expansion strategy, with the country now standing as its second-largest market for ChatGPT. Altman noted that usage of the chatbot has surged nearly fourfold in the past year, underscoring both the appetite for AI tools and the scale of digital adoption across India.

The new office is expected to play a pivotal role in deepening OpenAI’s engagement with local institutions, startups, and policymakers. By establishing a direct presence, the company aims to accelerate hiring of Indian talent, foster collaborations with universities, and expand its partnerships with government agencies working under the IndiaAI Mission. This aligns with India’s vision of using artificial intelligence to enhance public services, strengthen education systems, and improve access to digital infrastructure for millions of citizens.

Altman has previously described India as a “laboratory of scale” where innovation and adoption happen simultaneously, making it a critical market for testing and expanding AI applications. The upcoming visit will include meetings with senior officials, technology leaders, and academic institutions, signaling OpenAI’s intention to embed itself more deeply into India’s digital ecosystem.

Industry observers view this step as more than a market expansion; it also reflects a strategic alignment with India’s ambition to become a global hub for AI development. For OpenAI, the New Delhi office will serve as a gateway to not just support Indian users but also to contribute to global AI advancements by leveraging India’s vast pool of engineers, researchers, and entrepreneurs.