OpenAI India Expansion: 5 Bold Moves to Watch in 2025

Key Points

• OpenAI India Expansion: 5 Bold Moves to Watch in 2025
• OpenAI to open first India office in New Delhi
• Local hiring starts to build strong partnerships
• India to host OpenAI’s first Education Summit
• Launch follows $4.75/month ChatGPT Go rollout

OpenAI is officially coming to India. Just days after launching a new low-cost ChatGPT plan for Indian users, the AI giant has revealed it will open its first corporate office in New Delhi.

The office launch is more than just a real estate move; it’s a signal that OpenAI sees India as a strategic AI hub. India, with over 800 million internet users and one of the world’s fastest-growing tech ecosystems, is now a key focus for companies building next-gen AI tools.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman emphasized the importance of a local presence, saying the company’s goal is to “build AI for India, and with India.” The company is not only hiring local talent but also creating India-specific features based on real user feedback.

🚨 BREAKING: OpenAI to set up its first India office in New Delhi later this year, begins hiring. pic.twitter.com/9QhAsNrmya

— Beats in Brief 🗞️ (@beatsinbrief) August 22, 2025

This move comes after a series of important hires. Earlier in 2024, OpenAI appointed Pragya Mishra, formerly of Meta and Truecaller, to lead public policy efforts in the country. It also brought on Rishi Jaitly, Twitter India’s former head, as a senior advisor to help manage relationships with the Indian government.

India’s tech-friendly policy environment,  backed by initiatives like the IndiaAI Mission,  is also creating a fertile ground for AI innovation. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed OpenAI’s expansion, highlighting the government’s goal to build a “trusted and inclusive” AI ecosystem.

But OpenAI isn’t alone in eyeing India’s potential. Competitors like Perplexity have already made local moves, including a partnership with Bharti Airtel, offering 12 months of free Perplexity Pro to over 360 million users.

#BREAKING 🚨| OpenAI has confirmed plans to open its first India office in New Delhi later this year, citing the country’s rapid adoption of its tools. The move aligns with the government’s IndiaAI mission.

More details 🔗 https://t.co/lDltL5wQE9 pic.twitter.com/yeNzfTkeCi

— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) August 22, 2025

Other global giants like Google’s Gemini, which is rolling out powerful new Gemini Live features, are also turning their focus toward Asia.

ChatGPT Go Launch Targets India’s Mass Market

OpenAI’s expansion into India is supported by its newly launched ChatGPT Go plan, priced at just ₹399 ($4.75) per month. This plan is OpenAI’s most affordable subscription to date and was created specifically with Indian users in mind.

The goal? To turn India’s millions of free ChatGPT users into paying subscribers. India’s digital population is huge, but it’s also price-sensitive. Offering a value-packed plan under ₹400 is a bold step to lower the entry barrier and build deeper product engagement.

JUST IN: OpenAI is opening its first 🇮🇳India office in New Delhi this year and has already started hiring. pic.twitter.com/FFa6QBRkZ9

— Bitinning (@bitinning) August 22, 2025

With ChatGPT Go, Indian users now get access to GPT-4-level intelligence, faster response times, and additional features at a fraction of the cost compared to global pricing.

This pricing move reflects OpenAI’s broader challenge: how to increase ChatGPT app revenue in emerging markets like India.

This offering closely follows rival moves. Perplexity recently partnered with Bharti Airtel, allowing millions of mobile users to try Perplexity Pro at no cost for a year. The competition is heating up, and OpenAI doesn’t want to be left behind.

To deepen its India strategy, OpenAI also announced:

• India’s first ChatGPT Education Summit, planned for this month

• First-ever Developer Day in India, set for later this year

• Active collaboration with developers, startups, and academic leaders

The events aim to raise AI awareness, boost adoption, and build a strong AI-focused developer ecosystem in India.

OpenAI is opening their office in Delhi, great times lie ahead pic.twitter.com/ee7ahUyW9X

— … (@aayush_ism) August 22, 2025

Facing Legal and Monetization Challenges

Despite the optimism, OpenAI’s entry into India is not without hurdles. One major challenge is monetization. While millions use AI tools daily, getting Indian users to pay,  especially at scale, remains a big test.

Enterprise AI adoption is still maturing in India, and securing long-term business deals takes time. This is why rivals like Anthropic chose to focus on Japan over India, citing more stable enterprise opportunities there.

OpenAI also faces legal pressure. In November, Indian news agency ANI filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, accusing it of using copyrighted content without permission.

Big update! OpenAI has set up its India unit and started local hiring, while preparing to launch its first office in New Delhi later this year. This move strengthens India’s position in the global AI map and opens doors for businesses, developers and startups to collaborate with… pic.twitter.com/EoR8Mcv9B5

— SA News Channel (@SatlokChannel) August 22, 2025

Several Indian publishers joined the case earlier this year, signaling growing concerns over how AI models train on public content a debate also relevant to Meta AI’s translation tools for creators recently launched on Facebook.

Such lawsuits could influence how OpenAI navigates partnerships and content licensing in India. As the AI space evolves, companies will need to tread carefully,  balancing innovation with compliance.

Still, OpenAI is betting big. With a growing pool of developers, engineers, and digital creators, India has the raw talent needed to lead in AI. Government initiatives, academic support, and startup momentum give OpenAI a good runway.

CEO Sam Altman’s words reflect the company’s belief in the country’s potential:

“India has all the ingredients to become a global AI leader: amazing tech talent, a world-class developer ecosystem, and strong government support.”

However, Altman has also recently warned of an AI bubble forming in the tech world and how investor expectations could distort long-term innovation. India’s AI story must be built on sustainability, not just hype.

India’s AI Ecosystem Becomes a Global Focus

India is rapidly emerging as a global hub for AI development and adoption. Backed by its young population, expanding internet infrastructure, and growing tech-savvy workforce, the country is attracting serious attention from the world’s biggest AI players.

The Indian government is actively supporting this growth. Its IndiaAI Mission is designed to create a responsible AI ecosystem by funding research, encouraging startups, and building public-private partnerships.

With OpenAI entering the scene, the momentum will likely increase. The company’s presence may also encourage smaller AI startups to grow locally and globally, boosting the country’s innovation pipeline. Similar to Cohere’s soaring valuation, the Indian startup space could see big wins if global collaboration deepens.

OpenAI’s local office will serve as a collaboration point for partnerships across sectors:

• Government projects related to education, healthcare, and language AI

• Enterprise integrations for customer service, productivity, and automation

• Startup support through developer programs, funding, and mentorship

India’s move to the AI spotlight is just beginning. And with OpenAI stepping in, it’s clear that the global AI race is no longer about building from Silicon Valley alone,  it’s about building with India in the driver’s seat.