OpenAI Chief Sam Altman May Visit India in February: Report

Sam Altman, CEO of Microsoft-backed OpenAI, is reportedly considering a visit to India next week, Reuters reported, citing sources. If confirmed, this would mark Altman’s first visit to the country in two years, amid ongoing legal challenges for OpenAI in India.According to the report, Altman is expected to travel to New Delhi on February 5 and may meet with government officials. However, his schedule has not been finalized, and plans could still change.

OpenAI’s Presence in India and Legal Challenges

India is OpenAI’s second-largest market by user numbers, following the United States. Altman last visited the country in 2023, where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi to discuss AI’s role in advancing India’s tech ecosystem.

Since then, OpenAI has faced multiple legal challenges in India. In 2024, a copyright lawsuit was filed against the company by local news agency ANI in a New Delhi court. Several book publishers and nearly a dozen digital media firms—including those owned by Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani—have also joined the case.

OpenAI has defended itself, stating that it only utilizes publicly available data in a manner protected by fair use principles. The company has also argued that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the matter.

Rise of Chinese AI Rival DeepSeek

Altman’s potential visit comes amid the recent disruption caused by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup that has overtaken ChatGPT to become the top-rated free app on Apple’s App Store in the United States.

Founded by Liang Wenfeng, DeepSeek has shaken global tech markets, triggering a broader selloff in the sector. Wenfeng describes the venture as an exploration of intelligence, driven more by curiosity than immediate commercial interests.

“People may assume there’s a hidden business strategy behind this, but it’s primarily fueled by curiosity,” Liang said.