- OpenAI is surveying partners to build a data center in India with a minimum capacity of 1 gigawatt, which could become one of the largest facilities in the country.
- The project is part of the $500 billion Stargate program. OpenAI previously partnered with SoftBank and Oracle for its US deployment, which was praised by President Trump.
- India is OpenAI’s second-largest market by user count; ChatGPT usage here has quadrupled in the past year.
- Sam Altman announced on X that the company will open its first office in New Delhi by late 2025 and is currently hiring to expand its team.
- OpenAI has launched a $5/month service plan specifically for the Indian market to attract more users.
- Locating a data center in India helps provide customized chatbots and alleviates concerns about data being transferred abroad.
- OpenAI will collaborate with the Indian government on its $1.2 billion IndiaAI Mission, focusing on developing large and small language models for domestic needs.
- This move comes amid escalating US-India trade tensions, with Trump imposing a 50% tariff on Indian goods over trade disputes and Russia oil purchases.
- Unlike the UAE, which has faced US restrictions on AI chip exports since 2023, India is not subject to such controls, paving the way for OpenAI to deploy a large number of Nvidia chips for the data center.
- OpenAI has announced infrastructure plans in several countries: 520 MW in Norway, and 5 GW in Abu Dhabi (of which OpenAI will use 1 GW). Over 30 countries have contacted OpenAI to join the OpenAI for Countries initiative.
- Some US officials view the Gulf projects as necessary to counterbalance China but also worry about national security risks from Nvidia chips being moved abroad.
📌 OpenAI is accelerating its global infrastructure expansion with a 1 GW data center project in India, both to meet the 4x growth in ChatGPT users and to leverage favorable chip policies. This is part of the $500 billion Stargate strategy, alongside projects in Norway and Abu Dhabi. By collaborating with the $1.2 billion IndiaAI Mission, this move not only strengthens OpenAI’s position in Asia but also reflects the US-China-India geopolitical competition in AI. OpenAI has announced infrastructure plans in several countries: 520 MW in Norway, and 5 GW in Abu Dhabi (of which OpenAI will use 1 GW). Over 30 countries have contacted OpenAI to join the OpenAI for Countries initiative.
