Sam Altman Says India Is ChatGPT’s Largest Market by Users

• Altman says India now has more ChatGPT users than the United States.
• He praised Indian users for applying AI to businesses and practical tasks.
• Altman described US public attitudes toward AI as unusually negative.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says India has become ChatGPT’s largest market by user numbers. He credited the country’s “incredible builder energy,” pointing to people using artificial intelligence to start businesses and complete practical tasks. Altman made the comments during a conversation with Indian entrepreneur and podcaster Raj Shamani on the Figuring Out podcast.

Altman said India now has more ChatGPT users than the United States, and the Indian user base is growing quickly. He did not disclose exact totals or separate free accounts from paid subscriptions. His comments point to India’s growing role in OpenAI’s global expansion.

Altman Points to Practical Uses for AI

Altman said Indian users are treating ChatGPT as more than a novelty. He described people using it to build companies and finish tasks that might otherwise take hours. He also cited a school student who needed to raise money for his school but had no fundraising experience.

According to Altman, the student used OpenAI tools to manage the process from start to finish. Altman described the example as a sign of people using AI to turn unfamiliar challenges into workable plans. He did not name the student or share further details about the fundraising effort.

This is the kind of usage Altman says he imagines seeing in India. 

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Economic Conditions May Shape Attitudes Toward AI

Altman provided an economic rationale for the discrepancy in his perception of Indian versus American attitudes. He said that nations with more rapid economic growth might be more willing to adopt AI. In those markets, when supply doesn’t meet demand for goods and services, that could open a market for tools that assist consumers in filling unmet needs.

He described the United States as “unusually negative” toward AI in terms of expressed preferences. By contrast, he said India may be “unusually positive.” Those remarks reflect his assessment of public attitudes, not proof that Americans are using AI less. Nor do they mean every Indian user supports the technology.

The contrast comes as AI prompts debate in the United States over job displacement, corporate power, privacy, and the reliability of generated information. India’s large population, expanding digital economy, and startup community offer a different setting for adoption. Still, enthusiasm alone does not show whether AI’s benefits reach workers, students, and small businesses equally.

India’s User Base Raises the Stakes for OpenAI

India’s position as ChatGPT’s largest market by users gives OpenAI a substantial audience for product development and feedback. The ranking does not necessarily mean India is the company’s largest market by revenue, paid subscriptions, or spending per user.

The next question is whether fast adoption produces lasting gains in education, productivity, and business creation. Altman’s comments suggest many Indian users see ChatGPT as a practical tool, not just a novelty. However, the long-term value will depend on access, digital skills, and reliable outputs. It will also depend on whether people and organizations apply AI responsibly.

His assessment offers a snapshot of India’s growing place in OpenAI’s user base. It also shows how adoption can differ across economies, shaped by local needs, economic conditions, and public expectations.

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