OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has revealed that India now boasts 100 million weekly active users on ChatGPT, making it the company’s second-largest market after the United States and highlighting the country’s rapid embrace of AI tools.
The milestone, shared by Altman in a Times of India article published on February 15, 2026, comes ahead of his attendance at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, where he emphasized India’s potential as a “full-stack AI leader.” Altman noted that India has the world’s largest number of student users on ChatGPT, underscoring the role of young adopters in driving the platform’s growth.
This figure positions India as a key battleground for AI companies, with OpenAI preparing to deepen ties through the summit, which brings together global AI leaders to discuss innovation and policy. Globally, ChatGPT’s user base has grown rapidly, reaching over 700 million weekly active users by September 2025, according to OpenAI reports. India’s share represents about 14% of that total, affirming its status as a major emerging market for generative AI.
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Altman’s comments align with broader trends: India accounted for 8.91% of ChatGPT’s global traffic as of recent estimates, second only to the US at 18.06%. The surge in adoption comes as OpenAI expands its presence in the region, including plans for deeper government engagement to support AI development.
As AI tools like ChatGPT gain traction in education and beyond, India’s student-led surge could influence global product development, but it also raises questions about access, equity, and regulatory frameworks in emerging markets.
