NEW DELHI: Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw met OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on Wednesday to discuss India’s strategy for building a comprehensive artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem.
Following the meeting, Vaishnaw shared on X: “Had a super cool discussion with Sam Altman on our strategy of creating the entire AI stack – GPUs, models, and apps. OpenAI is willing to collaborate with India on all three.”
Vaishnaw highlighted India’s ability to develop cost-effective AI solutions, drawing parallels with the country’s successful low-cost space missions. “India sent a mission to the Moon at a fraction of the cost incurred by other countries. Why can’t we develop AI models at a fraction of global costs? Innovation will drive affordability across applications in healthcare, education, agriculture, weather forecasting, disaster management, and transportation,” he said.
Encouraging startups to innovate in AI, Vaishnaw announced plans for an open competition. “I urge the startup community to develop unique AI solutions. We will soon launch an open competition to foster innovation. AI can help solve numerous challenges, and we should leverage this technology to its fullest,” he added.
Altman Expresses Interest in AI Collaboration with India
Vaishnaw stated that Altman was keen on working with India to build cost-effective AI solutions. Speaking in New Delhi, the minister reiterated India’s goal of developing a complete AI ecosystem, including GPUs, models, and applications.
Altman, in a closed-door session with Indian tech developers, acknowledged India’s growing role in AI. “India is an incredibly important market for AI in general and for OpenAI in particular. I believe India should be a leader in the AI revolution,” he said, as per the Press Trust of India.
He also praised India’s rapid AI adoption: “It’s incredible to see how the country has embraced AI and is building an entire ecosystem around it.”
OpenAI, which launched ChatGPT in 2022, has been at the forefront of AI advancements. Altman revealed that India is now OpenAI’s second-largest market, with its user base tripling in the past year.
Vaishnaw reaffirmed India’s commitment to cost-effective tech solutions, referencing the country’s 2023 Moon mission. Altman responded positively, saying, “I’m really excited to do a lot more together.”
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to co-host an AI summit in France on February 10-11, where Altman is expected to participate.
Altman’s India visit is part of a broader Asia tour. On Tuesday, OpenAI signed a deal with South Korean tech giant Kakao, amid rising competition from Chinese AI firm DeepSeek.
