OpenAI on Monday rolled out a new subscription tier for its generative AI platform ChatGPT, introducing India-specific pricing along with Unified Payments Interface (UPI) support.
The new plan, called ChatGPT ‘Go’, is priced at ₹399 per month, a fifth of the ₹1,999 charged for the ‘Plus’ tier. According to the company, Go subscribers will receive access to 10 times higher query volume and daily image generation, though premium features such as priority access during peak hours and early access to new tools remain exclusive to higher-tier plans.
Nick Hurley, global head of ChatGPT, said the initiative is aimed at making AI more accessible. “This pricing plan offers higher query capacity and image generation, while enabling more users in India to integrate AI into their daily lives and businesses,” he said.
The launch comes as India cements itself as a critical market for OpenAI. Earlier this month, the co-founder and chief executive, Sam Altman, said the company expects India to become its top market by volume in the near future. OpenAI is also working with the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) on AI education projects, while partnering with local developers to expand adoption.
Altman noted: “Indian users are incredible in how they integrate AI into both personal and business contexts. We are working with partners to make AI more affordable and work-ready for everyone.”
OpenAI’s move comes amid intensifying competition in AI subscriptions. Google charges ₹1,950 per month for its ‘AI Pro’ plan, while Microsoft’s Copilot Pro costs around ₹2,000. With ChatGPT Go, OpenAI is undercutting rivals on price while seeking to widen its user base.
The company recently unveiled its GPT-5 foundational model and introduced ChatGPT for students, marking its third major announcement this month. Analysts say ChatGPT’s strong consumer reputation remains a key competitive advantage.
“OpenAI is already leading in conversational and reasoning models,” said Anushree Verma, senior director-analyst at Gartner. “The reputational advantage of ChatGPT is unmatched, and we expect OpenAI to remain the bellwether in AI.”
OpenAI currently claims 700 million users worldwide, with India its second-largest consumer base. The company expects to cross 1 billion monthly active users soon, with India driving much of the growth.
For Big Tech firms, India has become the largest user base outside China’s restricted market. Platforms such as Instagram and YouTube each count over 2 billion users, with India contributing the biggest share. Industry experts say AI services like ChatGPT and Perplexity could see a similar surge, making India the focal point of the global AI adoption race.
(By arrangement with livemint.com)