India has emerged as one of OpenAI’s most important markets, with its user base getting rapid growth in the country. Right before the AI Impact Summit 2026, Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, confirmed that ChatGPT has now hit the 100 million weekly active users mark in India as of February 2026. This milestone highlights India’s rapid growing engagement with AI (artificial intelligence) and reinforces the country’s position as the global hub for AI adoption, learning and experimentation.
OpenAI Confirms Massive ChatGPT Growth in India
In reports from the Times of India, Sam Altman revealed that India is now the second-largest market for ChatGPT globally, where the first is the United States. He says that “the momentum is clear”, noting that India has retained this position for several months now.
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He even highlighted that India has the largest number of students using ChatGPT worldwide, showing it as evidence young people are embracing the AI to “learn faster and get ahead”. He also said that India ranks fourth globally in the use of Prism, OpenAI’s free AI tool designed for scientific research and collaboration.
Sam Altman to Attend AI Impact Summit 2026
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also confirmed his presence at the AI Impact Summit 2026 happening in New Delhi, Bharat Mandapam, starting today and continuing until 20 February. This event will last five days and will feature sessions, exhibitions, and keynote addresses from global technology leaders and policymakers. Even the Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, is scheduled to attend the event.
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The rapid growth of ChatGPT aligns with OpenAI’s broader India strategy. In August 2025, the company introduced the ChatGPT Go subscription tier in India as a more affordable plan, and this one was even offered for free. In the same month, OpenAI posted the job listings for its first India office that is set to open in New Delhi and has outlined the plans to establish multiple data centres in the country.