India has emerged as OpenAI’s second-largest user base worldwide, marking a significant milestone in the country’s rapid adoption of artificial intelligence. The update was confirmed by Sam Altman, who disclosed that India now accounts for approximately 100 million weekly active users of ChatGPT, placing it behind only the United States in overall usage.
The announcement underscores India’s growing influence in the global AI ecosystem and highlights the country’s accelerating embrace of generative AI tools across sectors, including education, business, software development and content creation.
Rapid Growth in AI Adoption
The surge in usage reflects the increasing popularity of ChatGPT among Indian users, from students and professionals to start-ups and large enterprises. Industry analysts note that India’s large digital population, expanding internet penetration and thriving developer community have contributed to the rapid uptake of AI platforms.
India is home to one of the world’s largest bases of software engineers and technology professionals, making it a natural growth market for AI-powered productivity tools. The country’s vibrant start-up ecosystem has also been quick to integrate generative AI into customer service, automation, coding assistance and digital content strategies.
Strategic Importance for OpenAI
For OpenAI, India represents not only a major user market but also a long-term strategic growth region. The scale of adoption positions the country as a critical testing ground for AI deployment at a population scale, particularly in multilingual and mobile-first environments.
Altman has previously described India as an important growth engine for AI innovation, citing the country’s developer talent pool and expanding digital economy as key drivers. The 100 million weekly active user milestone signals strong engagement and sustained demand for AI-powered tools.
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AI Expansion in India
India’s rapid rise in OpenAI usage aligns with broader national momentum around artificial intelligence. Government initiatives that promote digital infrastructure, AI research, and startup development have helped accelerate adoption. Enterprises across finance, healthcare, education and media are increasingly experimenting with AI to improve efficiency and customer engagement.
The milestone also reflects a global trend: generative AI tools are moving from early experimentation to mainstream daily use. In India, that shift appears particularly pronounced, fuelled by a young population and widespread smartphone access.
A Growing Global Footprint
While the United States remains OpenAI’s largest market, India’s second-largest user base underscores how AI adoption is becoming increasingly global. As demand for AI tools continues to grow, India is likely to remain central to OpenAI’s international expansion strategy.
With tens of millions of weekly users already active, India’s role in shaping the next phase of AI innovation, from application development to large-scale deployment, is expected to deepen in the months ahead.
India Becomes OpenAI’s Second-Largest User Base Globally
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