OpenAI has started its first outdoor ad campaign in India. However, this is not the only push by the AI giant in the country. Recently, the company has launched its new affordable subscription tier, announced its first Indian office, and also committed to a massive data center. So in this article, I will talk about OpenAI’s India push and why the company is investing heavily in this developing market.
Affordable ChatGPT Go Plan
The biggest highlight of OpenAI’s India push is its recent India-specific ChatGPT Go plan. It costs Rs 399, which is around $4 a month, and gives access to GPT-5, ten times the usage limits compared to the free plan, along with the local UPI payment support. With stronger Indic language capabilities, it caters to students, creators, and small businesses who rely on AI for everyday productivity.
New Delhi Office Later This Year
The company has also confirmed that it will open its first Indian office in New Delhi later this year. The office will anchor partnerships, policy engagement, and developer relations in one of the company’s fastest-growing markets. Apart from that, some key leadership hires include names like Pragya Misra (policy and partnerships), Sheeladitya Mohanty (marketing, ex-Meta), and Akash Iyer (social, ex-Netflix India).
Gigawatt Data Center Underway
As we all know, the company is building massive data centers across the globe under its Stargate infrastructure project. Though under the same project, the company is preparing to build a gigawatt-scale data center in India, which could become one of the country’s largest. The project is expected to run on renewable energy and advanced security infrastructure, with talks underway with local partners like Reliance and Sify Technologies.
First Outdoor Ad Campaign
OpenAI rolls out its first outdoor ad campaign in India. pic.twitter.com/N6OluHs6i4
— Taher Dhanerawala (@taherdhanera) September 14, 2025
The company has also rolled out its outdoor ad campaign in India. The first billboard from OpenAI says, “Create a meal plan that hits 100g of protein a day. And a grocery list under Rs 100/week.” So, with a message like this, one thing is clear: the company is going after the masses and wants the people to adopt its tech.
Why Does India Matter to OpenAI?
The question that might arise in anyone’s mind is, why is OpenAI investing so much in the Indian market? Well, India has emerged as a strategic hub for OpenAI for several reasons. For example, India is now OpenAI’s second-largest market, after the US. Plus, with a massive youth population eager to use AI for education, business, and daily life, India provides a unique testing ground for products and pricing models.
Apart from that, India is home to one of the world’s largest STEM and AI engineering workforces as well. This is important for OpenAI’s local hiring and long-term research goals. Besides, it also gives a competitive edge to the company to make local investments in infrastructure. As it reduces latency, ensures responsible data handling, and helps OpenAI compete with rivals like Google, Meta, and Microsoft.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has repeatedly highlighted India’s “incredible energy” and “explosion of creativity,” noting that India is on track to become one of the world’s most important markets for AI adoption and innovation.
