ChatGPT’s Rapid Growth in India Faces Monetization Challenges

OpenAI’s ChatGPT sees rapid adoption in India, but converting this growth into revenue remains a challenge due to high subscription costs.

For years, U.S. tech giants have been riding the wave of India’s booming internet population to fuel their growth—and guess what? OpenAI has joined the party. But here’s the kicker: while India is gobbling up ChatGPT like there’s no tomorrow (seriously, it’s one of the fastest-growing markets, says OpenAI’s COO Brad Lightcap), the money’s not following suit. SensorTower’s numbers tell a tale of two cities: Indian users have shelled out $8 million in in-app purchases since 2023, which sounds like a lot until you see the U.S. users’ $330 million. Why the gap? Well, slapping a $20 price tag (that’s over ₹1,700, by the way) on your most affordable plan in a market where digital subscriptions are usually a fraction of that might have something to do with it.

But don’t count India out just yet. With 950 million internet users (yeah, you read that right), OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman isn’t just seeing potential; he’s seeing a goldmine. The plan? Maybe buddy up with big names like Reliance Jio to get ChatGPT into more hands. And it’s not all talk—India’s already responsible for more than 20% of ChatGPT Android app downloads this year, thanks in no small part to that nifty image generator everyone’s obsessed with.

📈 Image Credits: Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch