AI Impact Summit 2026: Sam Altman praises India’s AI progress, says nation well-positioned to lead globally

Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has praised India’s accelerating role in the global artificial intelligence landscape, describing it as one of the fastest-growing and most promising AI markets in the world.

Speaking at the AI Impact Summit 2026 on Thursday, Altman called it “incredible to see India’s leadership and advanced AI,” commending the country’s progress in making the technology accessible to more people and communities.

“It is striking how much progress India has made in its mission to put AI to work for more people in more parts of the country. And India’s leadership in sovereign AI has been great to watch,” he said.

India’s leadership in AI adoption

Altman emphasised that India is not merely participating in the global AI revolution but actively leading it.

“One and a hundred million people in India use ChatGPT every week. India is also the fastest-growing market now for CodeX. India, the world’s largest democracy, is well-positioned to lead in AI—not just to build it but to shape it and decide what our future is going to look like,” he remarked.

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He added that while tools and wealth matter, a democratic AI future must prioritise human agency and inclusion. “People must be given agency and power to shape its impact,” Altman said, calling for broader global collaboration to ensure AI benefits all.

Looking ahead, Altman predicted that AI would dramatically reduce costs in essential sectors such as healthcare, education, and supply chains, helping billions gain access to affordable and efficient services. “It is amazing to be here. Obviously, the work happening in India and the adoption of AI is leading the world, and I can’t wait to see what goes next,” he told ANI.

Superintelligence and the road ahead

Altman also addressed the future of advanced AI systems, stating that the “early versions of true super intelligence” could be just a few years away.

“As we prepare for this possibility, we are guided by three core beliefs. Number one, we believe that democratisation of AI is the only fair and safe path forward. Democratisation of AI is the best way to ensure that humanity flourishes,” he said.

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He warned that by the end of 2028, “more of the world’s intellectual capacity could reside inside of data centres than outside of them,” underscoring the need for responsible development.

Rejecting extreme approaches to technological progress, Altman noted, “Some people want effective totalitarianism in exchange for a cancer cure—I don’t think we should accept that trade-off.”

OpenAI’s growing footprint in India

OpenAI, which opened its first office in New Delhi last year and plans two more in Bengaluru and Mumbai, now counts India as its second-largest user base globally.

Alongside these developments, the company has announced a major academic collaboration with leading Indian institutions, including the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, and Pearl Academy.

This initiative aims to support over 100,000 students, faculty, and staff in the coming year by integrating AI into teaching, research, and campus operations. The collaboration will provide ChatGPT Edu access, discipline-specific training, and frameworks for responsible AI use.

In addition, OpenAI is partnering with edtech platforms such as PhysicsWallah, upGrad, and HCL GUVI to launch structured courses on AI fundamentals and practical ChatGPT applications, further strengthening India’s position as a key driver of global AI innovation.