OpenAI has announced a limited-time promotional offer providing its ChatGPT Go plan free of charge for one year to users in India, effective November 4. This strategic initiative aims to expand the company's footprint in one of its top global markets.
The promotion, announced on Tuesday, did not specify its duration but confirmed that existing ChatGPT Go subscribers in India would also be eligible for the free 12-month plan. ChatGPT Go, originally priced at less than $5 per month, was first launched in India in August before expanding to Indonesia and, more recently, to 16 additional Asian countries.
India, recognized as the world's most populous country with over 700 million smartphone users and more than a billion internet subscribers, represents a significant market for OpenAI. The company solidified its commitment by opening a New Delhi office in August and is actively recruiting a local team to enhance its regional presence. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman previously stated that India is the company's second-largest market after the United States.
Despite India's large user base, monetizing paid ChatGPT plans has presented challenges. Data from Appfigures indicated that the ChatGPT app recorded over 29 million downloads in the 90 days leading up to August but generated approximately $3.6 million in in-app purchases during the same period. The ChatGPT Go plan offers 10 times more usage than the free version for generating responses, creating images, and uploading files, alongside improved memory for personalized interactions, according to OpenAI.
Nick Turley, vice president and head of ChatGPT, stated, "Since initially launching ChatGPT Go in India a few months ago, the adoption and creativity we have seen from our users has been inspiring."
The competitive landscape in India's AI market is intensifying, with rivals also vying for market share. Perplexity recently partnered with telecom operator Airtel to offer free Perplexity Pro subscriptions to its 360 million subscribers. Similarly, Google introduced a free one-year AI Pro plan specifically for students in India.
OpenAI is scheduled to host its DevDay Exchange developer conference in Bengaluru on November 4. The company is expected to unveil India-specific announcements at the event, targeting local developers and enterprises, reinforcing India's status as a rapidly growing market for ChatGPT.
