Sam Altman, the chief of OpenAI backed by Microsoft, is reportedly considering a visit to India next week, according to sources cited by Reuters. This trip could mark Altman’s first visit to the country in two years, coinciding with ongoing legal challenges faced by the company in India. The report indicates that Altman has planned to be in New Delhi on February 5, where he may engage with government officials. However, it is noted that the itinerary is not yet finalized and could be subject to change.
OpenAI has identified India as its second-largest market by user count, following the United States. In 2023, Altman visited India and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the potential of artificial intelligence in enhancing India’s technology landscape. Since that visit, OpenAI has encountered several legal issues in India, including a lawsuit initiated in 2024 by local news agency ANI in a New Delhi court, alleging copyright violations. The case has since attracted participation from book publishers and numerous digital media outlets, including those owned by prominent billionaires Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.
In response to the allegations, OpenAI has maintained that it utilizes only publicly available data in a manner that adheres to fair use principles, asserting that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the matter. Recently, a global downturn in the tech market was triggered by the rise of Chinese AI competitor DeepSeek, whose AI Assistant has surpassed ChatGPT to become the highest-rated free app on Apple’s App Store in the United States.