New Delhi, Feb 5
India is becoming a key player in the world of artificial intelligence (AI), and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman believes the country has the potential to lead in this field. Speaking at an event alongside Union Minister for Railways and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Altman highlighted that India is OpenAI’s second-largest market globally.
Altman, who recently announced a massive $500 billion AI infrastructure project in the US with companies like SoftBank, Oracle, and MGX, said India should take a leadership role in AI development. He also clarified that his past comments on whether India could develop large AI models were misunderstood and taken out of context.
Meanwhile, Minister Vaishnaw emphasized that Indian entrepreneurs are committed to innovation. He compared India’s AI ambitions to the success of the Chandrayaan mission, stating that if India can achieve such milestones in space, it can do the same in AI.
The government has announced that India will launch its own AI model within six months. This homegrown AI system will be safe, secure, and cost-effective, making AI more accessible to Indian users. The initiative is part of the IndiaAI mission, which focuses on developing AI solutions tailored to Indian languages and needs.
Currently, scientists and developers are working on multiple AI models, and a large computing facility is being set up with 10,000 GPUs (graphics processing units). Another 8,693 GPUs will be added soon. Initially, this facility will benefit researchers, students, and developers. The government plans to offer AI access at a highly subsidized rate of less than ₹100 per hour per GPU, making it much cheaper than global alternatives, which cost around $2.5 to $3 per hour.
India’s AI initiative is expected to make the country a more reliable and affordable hub for AI technology, competing with models from countries like China and the US. With strong government support and rapid progress, India is well on its way to becoming a major force in AI innovation.
