Back in 2023, Sam Altman—CEO of OpenAI and the guy behind ChatGPT—basically shrugged off India’s chances in the AI race. His words? Building something like ChatGPT in India was “totally hopeless.” Ouch.
Fast forward to now, and Altman’s doing a full 180. Not only is he hyping India as one of the most creative, fastest-moving AI markets, but he’s also tweeting AI-generated pics of himself as an Indian cricketer. Cute? Sure. Coincidental? Definitely not.
From doubt to DMs: What made Altman switch gears?
Let’s be real—India didn’t magically transform overnight. The signs were always there: over a billion connected users, massive smartphone penetration, and a booming startup ecosystem. But now, with AI adoption exploding, it’s hard to ignore just how quickly India’s caught up—and in some cases, pulled ahead.
As Cred founder Kunal Shah famously put it, India is the “MAU farm of the world.” That’s Monthly Active Users, FYI. And for companies like OpenAI, that means one thing: scale. India isn’t just a market; it’s a live, breathing data playground—ideal for testing, training, and growing AI tools fast.
Is the praise genuine or just smart strategy?
Altman’s sudden love for India feels less like an epiphany and more like brand rehab + growth hack. OpenAI’s latest image generation tool pushed its infrastructure to the edge. Altman even admitted their “GPUs were melting.” They need scale, and India’s got it.
The cricket photo? It’s not just vibes—it’s a calculated move to tap into local sentiment and clean up past PR damage.
India’s AI scene is done waiting for validation
Whether Altman’s praise is real or strategic, one thing’s for sure: India’s not just showing up—it’s showing off. From homegrown LLMs to AI startups solving real-world problems at scale, the country’s building fast and bold.
But as India becomes the favourite playground for global AI giants, the big question remains: Is this partnership—or just another data grab?
Either way, India’s in the AI spotlight now. And this time, it’s not backing down.
