TLDRs;
- OpenAI expands hiring across Indian cities, targeting startups and developers with new leadership roles.
- ChatGPT Go offers Indians a free year of premium access, doubling user growth within a month of launch.
- Rival AI firm Anthropic plans a Bengaluru office, hiring for alliance and strategy roles.
- India’s UPI payment system enables easier AI subscriptions, fueling the country’s rise as a global AI hub.
India is fast solidifying its place as a global artificial intelligence (AI) hub, attracting major U.S.-based companies like OpenAI and Anthropic that are expanding their presence to tap into the country’s growing developer ecosystem and startup scene.
OpenAI, the San Francisco-based AI pioneer behind ChatGPT, has intensified hiring efforts across Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Mumbai, with new roles ranging from go-to-market managers to solutions architects and account directors. These positions, recently posted on LinkedIn, signal the company’s broader strategy to integrate deeper into India’s digital economy.
Executives from OpenAI have also been seen meeting local founders and entrepreneurs, with more leadership visits planned for November 2025, according to industry insiders. The company has repeatedly highlighted that India is its second-largest market, both in user base and growth momentum, a remarkable feat considering its late entry into the region.
OpenAI Bets Big on India’s Startups
This expansion follows OpenAI’s recent ChatGPT Go initiative, which offers Indian users a free one-year subscription to its premium AI assistant starting November 4.
Originally launched in August 2025 for just ₹399 (US$5) annually, the company’s most affordable plan, ChatGPT Go includes extended chat limits, improved image generation, and larger file uploads.
The campaign aligns with OpenAI’s first DevDay Exchange event in India, designed to build local developer communities and foster partnerships with emerging AI startups.
According to Bloomberg, India ranked among the fastest-growing ChatGPT markets worldwide, with the app becoming the fourth most visited site in India by September 2025. Following the local launch of ChatGPT Go, OpenAI reported that its user base in the country doubled within a month.
Anthropic Joins the Race
OpenAI is not alone in its India push. Rival U.S. AI firm Anthropic, known for developing the Claude family of large language models, is also hiring aggressively in India. The company has opened roles including Strategic Alliance Lead and confirmed plans to establish an office in Bengaluru, the nation’s technology capital.
Industry experts note that global AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic are customizing their strategies for India, recognizing its distinct data consumption habits, language diversity, and innovation-driven developer base.
The local AI landscape, dominated by startups working on voice interfaces, education tech, and fintech AI tools, offers fertile ground for these global companies to build regional partnerships.
Regulatory and Payment Ecosystem Favors Growth
India’s payment infrastructure also plays a key role in enabling AI adoption. The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), which handled over 17 billion transactions in June 2025, allows seamless recurring payments through AutoPay, a feature expected to help SaaS and AI subscription services like ChatGPT Go scale efficiently.
Under Reserve Bank of India (RBI) regulations, recurring transactions are capped at ₹5,000 per debit, but e-mandate solutions and AutoPay APIs now allow auto-debits up to ₹15,000 with one-time authentication. This streamlined process supports compliance while lowering friction for users subscribing to AI tools.
By integrating these systems, AI firms can bypass traditional card payment barriers and reach millions of users through RBI-compliant and mobile-friendly payment flows.
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