OpenAI explores AI infrastructure partnership with India government

OpenAI is exploring a partnership with the Indian government to build AI infrastructure in the country, including data center capacity, as part of its global “OpenAI for Countries” initiative. This collaboration would follow a bilateral model similar to OpenAI’s recent agreement with the UAE to host a 1-gigawatt AI computing cluster in Abu Dhabi, positioning India as a key strategic partner in OpenAI’s international expansion.

What you should know: OpenAI executives are currently in early-stage discussions with top Indian officials about co-developing foundational AI infrastructure.

• The talks are part of OpenAI’s “OpenAI for Countries” initiative, which seeks to replicate partnerships like the recent UAE agreement for a 1-gigawatt AI computing cluster in Abu Dhabi.
• Jason Kwon, OpenAI’s chief strategy officer, is visiting New Delhi as part of a broader Asia-Pacific tour that includes Japan, South Korea, Australia, and Singapore.

The big picture: This initiative represents OpenAI’s strategy to work alongside the U.S. government and individual nations to build AI infrastructure that supports data sovereignty and local industry development.

• Under this model, OpenAI partners with countries to build secure, in-country data center capacity that helps protect national data sovereignty while enabling AI customization and compliance.
• The approach aligns with the broader U.S. Stargate initiative, a $500 billion domestic AI infrastructure project led by OpenAI in partnership with SoftBank, a Japanese investment firm, and Oracle, a major cloud computing company.

Educational partnership launched: OpenAI has already begun deepening its India relationship through the launch of the OpenAI Academy, its first international education platform.

• The program, developed in collaboration with India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), provides developers, startups, and innovators with access to AI tools and learning resources.
• The initiative supports India’s IndiaAI Mission and aims to build the country’s AI talent pool.

What they’re saying: OpenAI’s chief strategy officer emphasized India’s strategic approach to AI development during his visit.

• “In the brief time that I have spent in India, it is clear that the country’s leadership understands that maximizing AI’s benefits requires significant investments in two areas — core infrastructure and cultivating AI talent,” Kwon said during a recent event in Delhi.

Why this matters: The potential India partnership signals OpenAI’s growing focus on Asia-Pacific markets and its strategy to build international AI infrastructure alliances that support both U.S. policy objectives and partner nations’ technological ambitions.