OpenAI founder Sam Altman ignited a social media frenzy in India after posting an AI-generated image of himself as an anime-style cricketer sporting the Indian team jersey. The image, created using ChatGPT, immediately sparked speculation about Altman’s motives, with many questioning whether it was a calculated move to attract Indian customers and capitalize on the country’s burgeoning AI market.
While some Indian users expressed delight at seeing Altman in their team’s colors, others were quick to point out his recent praise for India’s adoption of AI technology. Just hours before posting the cricket image, Altman lauded India’s AI progress as “amazing” and “outpacing the world,” further fueling suspicions of a strategic agenda.
Skepticism surrounding Altman’s perceived charm offensive stems from his past remarks about India’s AI capabilities. During a visit in 2023, he appeared dismissive of small Indian startups attempting to compete with OpenAI. However, his tone shifted dramatically during a subsequent visit this year, where he expressed eagerness to collaborate with India on low-cost AI models and acknowledged the country as OpenAI’s second-largest market.
Despite the praise, OpenAI is currently embroiled in a legal battle with major Indian news media companies over alleged unauthorized use of their content. This adds another layer of complexity to Altman’s actions, leading experts to believe that his newfound affinity for India is primarily driven by the country’s immense market potential.
The AI market in India is projected to reach $8 billion by 2025, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of over 40%. With competitors like Gemini and Grok rapidly gaining traction in the Indian market, Altman appears keen to retain existing users and attract new ones, solidifying OpenAI’s position in this lucrative landscape. As one expert put it, “there’s no real love; it’s just business.”