New Delhi, February 3, 2025 — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is scheduled to visit India on February 5, marking his second trip to the country in two years. During his visit, Altman is expected to meet with top government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and participate in an industry fireside chat, sources revealed.
His visit comes amid increasing global competition in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector, particularly from Chinese startup DeepSeek, whose low-cost AI model R1 has gained significant traction. DeepSeek recently overtook OpenAI’s ChatGPT as the top-rated free app on Apple’s App Store in the United States, challenging the dominance of Western AI firms.
India has emerged as a key player in the AI race, with the government recently announcing plans to develop its own foundational AI model. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw outlined India’s ambitions to build a cost-effective, sovereign AI system, aiming to provide affordable AI computing power at less than ₹100 ($1.16) per hour, significantly undercutting global competitors.
Altman’s visit also coincides with OpenAI facing legal challenges in India. The company has been accused of copyright breaches by local news agencies, including ANI, over claims that its AI models have used content without authorization. OpenAI has denied wrongdoing, arguing that it relies on publicly available data under fair use principles and asserting that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the matter.
India is OpenAI’s second-largest market in terms of user numbers, trailing only the United States. Altman’s engagements during the visit are expected to focus on regulatory discussions, AI collaborations, and the future of artificial intelligence in the Indian ecosystem.
The trip also follows a major shakeup in the global AI industry, as DeepSeek’s rapid rise has led to growing concerns among U.S. tech giants. Last week, AI chipmaker Nvidia suffered a record $590 billion market capitalization wipeout, the largest single-day loss in history, amid uncertainty over AI investment returns.
With India positioning itself as a major AI hub, Altman’s visit is expected to shape discussions on AI policy, industry partnerships, and the evolving global landscape of artificial intelligence.
