Sam Altman, the CEO of Microsoft-backed OpenAI, is expected to visit India next week, marking his first trip in two years, according to sources familiar with the matter. His visit comes at a time when OpenAI is facing legal disputes in India.
According to sources, Altman is likely to travel to New Delhi on February 5, with discussions involving government officials potentially on the agenda. However, the itinerary has not been finalized, and plans could still change. OpenAI, India’s IT ministry, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s office have not yet responded to inquiries regarding the visit.
India is OpenAI’s second-largest market in terms of user numbers, following the United States. Altman last visited the country in 2023, where he met with Modi to discuss AI’s role in enhancing India’s technological landscape.
Since that visit, OpenAI has encountered legal hurdles in India, including a copyright lawsuit filed by local news agency ANI in a New Delhi court last year. Prominent book publishers and multiple digital media firms, including companies owned by Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani, have also joined the case.
In response, OpenAI has maintained that its data usage aligns with fair use principles and argues that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the matter.
Meanwhile, the global tech industry has experienced market fluctuations following the rise of DeepSeek, a Chinese AI competitor. DeepSeek’s AI Assistant recently surpassed ChatGPT to become the highest-rated free app on Apple’s App Store in the United States.