OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning a high-profile visit to India in mid-February 2026, coinciding with the landmark India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi. The visit marks his return to a country that has become ChatGPT’s largest market by downloads and a critical battleground for global AI supremacy.
The Details
The Summit: Running from 16–20 February at Bharat Mandapam, the event will host a "who's who" of tech, including Sundar Pichai (Google), Jensen Huang (Nvidia), and Dario Amodei (Anthropic).
Altman’s Agenda: While not yet on the public speakers' list, Altman is expected to lead closed-door meetings with government officials and startup founders. OpenAI is also reportedly hosting a private, invite-only event on 19 February.
The Goal: OpenAI aims to deepen its "enterprise footprint" in India and navigate local regulatory discussions as the Indian government seeks up to $100 billion in AI-related investments.
The Bottom Line
In simple terms, the world’s AI leaders are descending on New Delhi because India is no longer just using AI—it is now a primary driver of the industry’s growth. Altman’s visit signals that OpenAI is determined to protect its lead in a market that is expanding faster than almost anywhere else on earth.
Would you like me to draft a brief summary of the specific "inclusive AI" goals the Indian government is pitching at this summit?