The US tech giant OpenAI is in discussions with India as part of its new “OpenAI for Countries” initiative. The initiative aims to collaborate with national governments to boost its artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure and talent.
The global program, led by OpenAI’s Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon, seeks to partner with the U.S. and other nations to develop data center capacity and advance AI innovation. Kwon, currently in Delhi, has been touring Asia Pacific, engaging with governments and private-sector players in Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, and Singapore.
As per the reports, the “OpenAI for Countries” initiative follows a two-way partnership model. Last month, a pilot project with the UAE was announced, featuring a 1-gigawatt AI computing cluster, Stargate, in Abu Dhabi, alongside UAE investments in U.S. AI infrastructure. OpenAI aims to launch 10 such projects in its first phase, with details of a potential India-U.S. collaboration still under wraps.
Speaking at a Delhi event on June 5, Kwon emphasized India’s potential, stating, “The country’s leadership sees that maximizing AI’s benefits requires investment in core infrastructure and cultivating AI talent. This can accelerate economic growth.”
In a significant step, OpenAI partnered with MeitY’s IndiaAI Mission to launch the “OpenAI Academy,” marking its first international education platform rollout. A memorandum of understanding outlines seven joint efforts, including sharing educational content for the FutureSkills platform and the iGOT Karmayogi portal for government officials, initially in English and Hindi, with four regional languages to follow.
OpenAI will host webinars and workshops in six cities, offering up to $100,000 in API credits to 50 approved startups or fellows, and run hackathons across seven states, targeting 25,000 students. Winners will attend OpenAI Dev Day events abroad. IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has also stressed making AI tools widely accessible to empower startups, developers, and researchers in India.