OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning to visit India in mid-February, marking his first trip to the country in nearly a year, according to people familiar with the matter. The visit coincides with the India AI Impact Summit 2026, a marquee global AI event that positions India as a critical hub for artificial intelligence development and adoption.

India AI Impact Summit 2026 draws global leaders

The India AI Impact Summit 2026 is scheduled to be held in New Delhi between February 16 and 20, expected to draw top executives from major technology companies alongside senior Indian policymakers and business leaders. While Altman is not currently listed as a confirmed speaker at the summit, sources indicate he is expected to be in New Delhi during the summit window and will participate in a series of closed-door meetings on the sidelines.

Packed AI week with multiple industry events

The summit week is emerging as a focal point for global AI engagement with India, with several major companies planning concurrent events:

• Anthropic is hosting a developers' day in Bengaluru on February 16
• Nvidia is expected to hold a private event in New Delhi during the same week
• OpenAI is planning an invitation-only event in New Delhi on February 19, bringing together venture capitalists and senior industry executives
• Several other U.S. technology companies are planning side events

This concentration of AI industry activity underscores India's growing importance as a market for enterprise AI adoption, developers and startups.

India's strategic importance for OpenAI

Altman's visit comes as India has emerged as a key growth market for U.S. AI companies. India is now ChatGPT's largest market by downloads and second-largest by users globally, highlighting the country's massive user base and adoption potential.

However, monetisation remains a challenge. OpenAI introduced a lower-priced "ChatGPT Go" plan under $5 in India and offered it free for a year to drive adoption.

Expanding presence and strategic meetings

OpenAI has been actively hiring in India across enterprise sales, technical deployment and legal roles, with openings in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The company had previously announced plans for a New Delhi office, though Altman's planned return visit following that announcement did not materialize.

Sources indicate that Altman is expected to meet senior government officials, startup founders and technology executives during the visit, as OpenAI looks to deepen enterprise adoption while continuing to scale as a mass-market product in India. The visit has not been publicly announced and plans could still change.

Altman last visited India in February 2025, making this upcoming trip significant for strengthening OpenAI's presence in one of the world's most important AI markets.