Introduction
OpenAI’s Chief Executive Officer, Sam Altman, is scheduled to visit India on February 5, 2025, marking his first trip to the country in two years. This visit comes at a pivotal time as OpenAI faces significant legal challenges in India and confronts escalating competition in the artificial intelligence (AI) sector.
Anticipated Agenda in New Delhi
According to sources familiar with the matter, Altman’s itinerary includes a visit to New Delhi, where he is expected to engage with government officials. However, as of now, neither OpenAI nor India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, nor the office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have provided official comments regarding the visit.
OpenAI’s Growing Legal Challenges in India
India has emerged as OpenAI’s second-largest market by user numbers, following the United States. Despite this growth, the company is grappling with legal challenges in the country. In November 2024, Indian news agency Asian News International (ANI) filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging unauthorized use of its content to train the AI model ChatGPT. ANI claims that OpenAI utilized its published material without permission, infringing upon its copyright. The Delhi High Court has issued summons to OpenAI in response to this suit.Â
Following ANI’s legal action, other prominent Indian media organizations have joined the fray. Digital news firms owned by billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, along with outlets like the Indian Express and Hindustan Times, have accused OpenAI of using their copyrighted content without authorization. These organizations argue that OpenAI’s actions threaten the integrity of their intellectual property and have filed lawsuits seeking redress.Â
In its defense, OpenAI has asserted that it uses publicly available data under fair use principles and contends that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the matter, given that the company has no operations in India. OpenAI has also highlighted that complying with orders to remove training data could conflict with its legal obligations under U.S. law.Â
Rising Competition in the AI Landscape
Altman’s visit coincides with a period of intensified competition in the global AI market. Notably, Chinese AI competitor DeepSeek has disrupted the tech landscape with its AI Assistant, which recently surpassed ChatGPT as the leading free app on Apple’s U.S. App Store. This development underscores the rapidly evolving dynamics of the AI industry and the challenges OpenAI faces in maintaining its competitive edge.Â
Previous Engagements and the Road Ahead
Altman’s last visit to India was in 2023, during which he discussed the potential of AI with Prime Minister Modi. Since then, the landscape has shifted significantly, with legal challenges mounting and competition intensifying. Altman’s upcoming visit is anticipated to address these pressing issues, potentially involving discussions with Indian officials to navigate the legal complexities and explore avenues for collaboration in the burgeoning AI sector.