In recent years, American tech companies have increasingly focused on India's vast internet user market, and OpenAI is no exception. According to OpenAI, India has become one of the fastest-growing markets for its ChatGPT users. However, third-party data suggests OpenAI is facing challenges in converting this growth into revenue.
Data from analytics firm SensorTower shows that Indian users have spent $8 million on ChatGPT subscriptions since 2023. While significant, this pales in comparison to the estimated $33 billion spent by US users on ChatGPT, according to SensorTower.
A major contributing factor to this disparity is the lack of localized pricing in the Indian market. OpenAI's cheapest ChatGPT plan in India costs $20 per month (over 1700 Indian rupees), a relatively high price for many Indian users.
Despite the currently low revenue, India still holds significant potential as a future growth engine for OpenAI. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has expressed a desire to build OpenAI into a platform with billions of users. With India's nearly 950 million internet users, OpenAI has the potential for substantial growth.
OpenAI is reportedly in talks with Reliance Jio, one of India's largest mobile carriers, to bring ChatGPT to a wider audience. Meanwhile, ChatGPT's user base in India continues to expand.
According to app tracker Appfigures, over 20% of ChatGPT's Android app downloads in 2023 have come from India. Part of this growth is attributed to the recent launch of an improved image generator, which has gained popularity for its ability to generate realistic Ghibli-style artwork.
In summary, while OpenAI's revenue from India remains modest, strong user growth indicates significant untapped potential.
Key Takeaways:
📈 ChatGPT is experiencing rapid user growth in India, but revenue growth is lagging.
💰 Indian users spent only $8 million on ChatGPT in 2023, significantly less than the $33 billion spent in the US.
🤝 OpenAI is seeking a partnership with Reliance Jio to expand ChatGPT's user base in India.
