OpenAI’s massive plans for India: Hires Twitter India ex-head Rishi Jaitly to navigate AI regulations

It seems that OpenAI has some massive plans for India. The AI giant, led by Sam Altman, is forging a collaboration with Rishi Jaitly, former head of Twitter India, to gain insights into the complexities of India’s AI policies and regulations.

Jaitly has joined OpenAI as a senior advisor, with a focus on facilitating discussions with the Indian government regarding AI policies. This strategic partnership aims to navigate the intricate landscape of AI governance in India.

According to a report by TechCrunch, OpenAI also has plans to establish a local team in India, which signals an effort to engage with the rapidly growing AI ecosystem in the country.

Rishi Jaitly brings a wealth of experience to this collaboration, having previously served as the head of the public-private partnership for Google in India from 2007 to 2009. Subsequently, he joined Twitter in 2012 as the company’s first employee in India, where he joined as the Founding Managing Director, and left in 2016 as Vice President, Asia Pacific, Middle East & North Africa.

While OpenAI currently does not have an official presence in India, Sam Altman had a significant interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the country in June. The discussions focused on India’s growing tech landscape and the potential benefits of AI for the country.

The collaboration with Rishi Jaitly and the establishment of a local team reflect OpenAI’s commitment to understanding and contributing to India’s evolving AI landscape.

Anna Makanju, OpenAI’s vice president of global affairs, is set to participate in the upcoming Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence summit in Delhi. The event, titled “Collaborative AI for Global Partnership (CAIGP) – Global Cooperation for Equitable AI,” will feature discussions with industry experts and international leaders. According to sources quoted by TechCrunch, Jaitly played a role in arranging Makanju’s involvement in the summit.

During a June event in New Delhi, Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, responded to a question about building foundational models with a $10 million budget, stating it was “hopeless.”

Despite facing criticism from Indian entrepreneurs, Altman clarified that his remarks were taken out of context. He emphasized the challenge of competing with well-funded organizations like OpenAI with a limited budget and encouraged startups to focus on innovative contributions.

India, as the world’s most populous country and the second-largest internet market, offers growth opportunities. Altman expressed OpenAI’s interest in India during his visit to IIIT Delhi, acknowledging the country’s enthusiasm for embracing AI and other technologies.

While OpenAI has not disclosed any investments in India, an investor mentioned that the company views India as a key market and is exploring opportunities to expand its presence. However, the pace of OpenAI’s move into the Indian market remains uncertain.

With a more aligned board supporting OpenAI’s commercial initiatives, regulation appears to be one of the few obstacles in the company’s path. Working on the regulatory front may be a crucial focus for the company at this juncture.

In contrast, Microsoft, OpenAI’s major investor and strategic partner, has a significant presence in India, with a strong foothold established since 1990s. The software giant operates one of its largest R&D centres in Bengaluru, along with three data centres across the country. With over 20,000 employees in 10 Indian cities, Microsoft actively invests in Indian startups, showcasing a robust presence in the region.

(With inputs from agencies)