OpenAI’s Sam Altman Now Sees India as a Leader in AI Revolution

OpenAI’s Sam Altman Recognizes India’s AI Revolution Potential Amid Cost-Efficient Innovations

OpenAI founder Sam Altman, who once called India’s ambitions to build foundational AI models with limited budgets “hopeless,” has now revised his stance, recognizing India as a potential leader in the AI revolution. Speaking in a fireside chat with IT & Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Altman highlighted India’s technological progress and its significance in the AI landscape.

“India should be one of the leaders of the AI revolution,” Altman remarked. “It’s quite amazing to see how the country has embraced technology and built an entire AI stack. India is an incredibly important market for AI, and for OpenAI in particular. It’s our second-largest market, and we tripled our users here last year.”

India’s Cost-Efficient AI Models

Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized India’s ability to develop AI models efficiently and at a fraction of the cost incurred by global tech giants. Citing India’s cost-effective Moon mission as an example, he stated, “Our young entrepreneurs, startups, and researchers are focused on innovation that will significantly reduce AI development costs. If we can send a mission to the Moon at a fraction of the cost, why can’t we create AI models at a fraction of what others are spending?”

AI Costs Are Dropping, But Cutting-Edge Research Remains Expensive

Altman acknowledged that AI model costs have decreased significantly, stating that the cost of intelligence per unit has dropped by nearly tenfold over the past year. However, he pointed out that frontier research projects like Stargate still demand high investments. “While AI development costs are falling, staying at the cutting edge will always be expensive. However, the returns in terms of economic and scientific value are exponential,” he added.

India AI revolution

With the India AI Mission focusing on localized AI models that reflect regional languages and cultural nuances, India is poised to become a key player in the AI revolution. The combination of government support, innovation-driven startups, and cost-efficient solutions positions India as a leader in AI’s global landscape.