When OpenAI CEO Sam Altman touches down in India, it’s not just another stop on his packed itinerary—it’s a strategic move in a rapidly shifting AI landscape. Altman’s globe-trotting over the past year has taken him from Japan and South Korea to the UAE and Germany, where he’s been busy forging partnerships and addressing the global AI community. His visit to India, though, carries a unique weight. India isn’t just OpenAI’s second-largest market—with users tripling in the past year—it’s also at the crossroads of a critical debate about the future of AI: accessibility, affordability, and the race to develop foundational models that can rival the best in the world.

The timing of his visit isn’t coincidental—it’s part of a broader effort to counter DeepSeek’s growing influence and solidify OpenAI’s foothold in key markets like India. Over the course of his trip, Altman participated in a high-profile fireside chat with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, where they discussed India’s AI ambitions, from building its own foundational models to designing cost-effective chips. He also engaged in closed-door meet-and-greets with startup founders and venture capitalists, where topics like AI pricing, accessibility, and local language models dominated the conversation . Altman’s presence in India underscores not just the country’s importance to OpenAI, but also the broader role India could play in the evolving global AI narrative.

From “Hopeless” to Hopeful: Altman Softens His Stance on India’s AI Ambitions

Back in 2023, Altman made headlines (and ruffled a few feathers) when he remarked that it was “totally hopeless” for Indian startups to compete with OpenAI on foundational AI models, during a visit in June 2023. Unsurprisingly, that didn’t go down well in a country that prides itself on jugaad and out-of-the-box thinking. Fast forward to 2025, and Altman is singing a different tune. “I think India should go for a full-stack approach,” he said during his visit, signalling a newfound confidence in India’s ability to not just use AI but to build it from the ground up . It’s a notable shift and a reflection of how rapidly India’s AI ecosystem has evolved.

The Price Tag Problem: Indian Startups Push for Affordable AI

One of the more candid moments of Altman’s visit came behind closed doors, where Indian startup founders urged OpenAI to consider India-specific pricing. With competitors like China’s DeepSeek offering AI models at significantly lower costs, founders like Paytm’s Vijay Shekhar Sharma and Unacademy’s Gaurav Munjal pointed out that OpenAI’s current pricing was simply too steep for the Indian market . “For mass-scale adoption, it [pricing] would need to come down dramatically,” said Snapdeal co-founder Kunal Bahl. While Altman didn’t make any promises, he acknowledged that “options of open-sourcing and reducing costs are both on the table”.

Building India’s AI Stack: Chips, Models, and Applications

Altman’s visit wasn’t just about expanding OpenAI’s reach—it was also about supporting India’s quest to build its own AI stack. During a discussion with IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Altman expressed enthusiasm for India’s efforts to create everything from GPUs to large language models. “India should be doing everything; India should be among the leaders of the AI revolution,” he said . Vaishnaw echoed this sentiment, comparing India’s AI ambitions to its low-cost space missions: “Our country sent a mission to the Moon at a fraction of the cost. Why can’t we do a model which will be a fraction of the cost?”.

The Age of Agentic AI: From Chatbots to Digital Coworkers

If you thought ChatGPT was impressive, Altman wants you to brace for what’s next: agentic AI. Unlike generative AI, which responds to user prompts, agentic AI goes a step further by making decisions and executing tasks autonomously. “We’ll also get GPT-4 level models running on phones at some point,” Altman predicted, hinting at a future where AI doesn’t just assist—it takes charge. With India’s vast tech workforce and entrepreneurial spirit, the country could become a leader in deploying these next-gen AI agents across industries.

The DeepSeek Dilemma: India’s Role in the Global AI Race

Altman’s visit coincided with the rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI model that’s been making waves for its cost-effectiveness and performance. While Altman was “extremely sceptical of the cost number,” noting that “there are some zeros missing,” he acknowledged the model’s quality and the competitive pressure it brings . For India, this isn’t just a spectator sport. The country has a chance to position itself as a key player in the global AI race, balancing the power dynamics between the US and China. “If China can do it, we can also do it,” said Unacademy’s Gaurav Munjal, reflecting the ambitious mood of India’s tech community.

AI for Humanity: Beyond Profits to Purpose

Altman’s visit wasn’t all about business strategy and market share. He also touched on AI’s potential for social good, sharing a touching story about how OpenAI’s DeepResearch tool helped a father find better treatments for his daughter’s rare cancer. “Seeing stuff like that is really meaningful to us,” Altman said . In a country like India, where AI can be leveraged to solve pressing challenges in healthcare, education, and agriculture, the potential for impact is enormous.

The Deafening Silence Around Suchir Balaji’s Death

It isn't all rosy, however; perhaps the most unsettling aspect of Altman’s visit was the complete silence surrounding the death of Suchir Balaji, a former OpenAI researcher and Indian national, found dead in his San Francisco apartment just months prior. While authorities ruled it a suicide, Balaji’s family has disputed this, citing signs of a struggle and inconsistencies in the official reports. Balaji had previously raised ethical concerns about OpenAI’s data practices, making the lack of any public acknowledgment during Altman’s fireside chats, meetings with government officials, or startup engagements feel damning. In a visit centred on India’s role in AI’s future, the absence of even a mention of Balaji’s death wasn’t just a missed opportunity—it was a glaring omission that left many questioning the narratives being presented.

Altman’s visit to India was more than just a corporate tour—it was a reflection of India’s rising importance in the global AI landscape. From pushing for affordable AI solutions to advocating for India’s full-stack development, the conversations sparked during his visit could shape the future of AI in the country. As India transitions from being a consumer of AI to a creator, one thing is clear: the world is not just watching but learning from India’s AI journey.