OpenAI DevDay India: What It Means for Local AI Startups

The Free-Year Bet

Look, what if your next ChatGPT plan costs you nothing for a whole year? OpenAI is rolling out a year-long free trial of its ChatGPT Go plan for all new users in India, kicking off on November 4 and timed with Bengaluru’s DevDay Exchange. So yes—you’ll get the latest GPT-5 model and expanded messaging limits, even though the Go tier keeps a lighter feature set. This isn’t a test run; it’s a national shopping spree for AI access, aimed at turning curiosity into daily utility. (And yes, it’s a big bet on how Indians will use AI at home, at work, and in schools.)

India’s AI momentum gets turbocharged

Here's the thing: India is the perfect stage for this experiment. OpenAI has already shown India’s appetite by launching the Go plan to broad audiences, and it’s doubling down with a local New Delhi office and a Bengaluru developer-focused event. With over 700+ million smartphone users and more than a billion internet subscribers, the math is simple: if you offer free access, you unlock a huge, diverse user base that’s never tried paid AI before. The company notes that in the first wave, paid subscribers in India doubled in just the first month after the August launch—global reach now extending to nearly 90 markets. You can feel the regional push behind the scenes: more sales roles, more lab-like training, and a real focus on AI as a business and education tool.

The money puzzle and the push to convert

So, why give it away? OpenAI is chasing growth and monetization where it’s historically tricky. In the early days, over 29 million downloads in 90 days didn’t translate into big in-app purchases—the figure floated around $3.6 million in purchases. The free year-long offer is a direct attempt to jump-start actual paid conversions later, especially as rivals circle: Perplexity with Airtel and Google’s free AI Pro for students signal a broader push to win Indian users with price and access as the main weapons. The math is clear: if you reach more Indians now, you create a longer horizon for monetization later, especially as AI becomes embedded in education, startups, and SMEs.