Starting this week, millions of Indians will receive one year of free access to OpenAI’s new, low-cost ChatGPT Go AI chatbot.
The initiative follows similar moves by Google and Perplexity AI, who have partnered with Indian telecom providers to offer users free or discounted access to their AI tools. Perplexity teamed up with Airtel, the country’s second-largest mobile network, while Google partnered with Reliance Jio, India’s largest telecom provider.
Analysts caution that these offers are not purely altruistic. “The plan is to get Indians hooked on generative AI before asking them to pay for it,” said Tarun Pathak, an analyst at Counterpoint Research.
India’s open, competitive digital market, combined with over 900 million internet users, some of the world’s cheapest data, and a young online population, makes it a prime location for AI companies to grow their user base and train models with large volumes of first-hand data.
“India is an incredibly diverse country. The AI use cases emerging from here will serve as valuable case studies for the rest of the world,” Pathak added.
Consumer and Regulatory Concerns
While the free access benefits users, it raises questions about data privacy. Prasanto K Roy, a Delhi-based tech analyst, noted that most users are willing to trade personal data for convenience or free services.
Currently, India lacks a dedicated AI law. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDP) 2023 is yet to be enacted, and it does not address AI-specific concerns or algorithmic accountability. Experts expect the law, once implemented, to be among the world’s most advanced in digital privacy standards.
Until then, India’s flexible regulatory environment allows AI companies to roll out large-scale initiatives more easily than in regions such as the EU or South Korea, where strict AI rules require transparency, consent, and labeling.
The Business Case for Free AI Access
Offering free AI tools is a calculated investment. Even if only 5% of free users convert to paying subscribers, the sheer scale of India’s population represents a significant long-term opportunity, analysts say.
“The more unique, first-hand data they gather, the better their models, particularly generative AI systems, become,” Pathak said.
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani wa...
Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have surged after the Taliban government accused Islamabad of carrying out an attack that killed m...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (17 March) announced that he is postponing a highly anticipated trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi...
Joseph Kent, head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday (17 March), becoming the most senior official in President Dona...
A series of severe storms, blizzards and tornadoes on Monday disrupted life across much of the U.S., leaving more than 12,500 flights delayed or ca...
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani was killed in Israeli strikes.
Tensions between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban have surged after the Taliban government accused Islamabad of carrying out an attack that killed more than 400 people, an allegation Pakistan denies. Here is how the two sides compare in military strength, from troop numbers to nuclear capability.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (17 March) announced that he is postponing a highly anticipated trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, citing the war with Iran as the main disruption to efforts to ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
Joseph Kent, head of the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, resigned on Tuesday (17 March), becoming the most senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration to step down over the war in Iran. Kent cited his opposition to the conflict, stating that Tehran posed no imminent threat.
The other evening, I was fuelling my car at a petrol station in Kenya’s capital. It was one of those small moments most motorists barely notice. The attendant filled the tank, I glanced at the pump price, paid, and drove off.
President Trump called on countries to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Starmer said the UK is working with allies to restore navigation and stabilise oil markets. It comes as a strike near Iraq’s western border killed several Hashed al-Shaabi fighters, raising regional tensions.
President Donald Trump said NATO is making a “very foolish mistake” by refusing to help the U.S. as Israel Katz claimed Ali Larijani was killed in Israeli strikes.
Kazakhstan has adopted a new constitution that could allow President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to stay in power beyond 2029. The Central Election Commission confirmed that 87.15% of voters backed the constitution in a referendum held on Sunday (17 March).
The World Health Organization (WHO) has released $2m in emergency funding to support health responses in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria as escalating regional conflict strains hospitals, raises displacement and increases pressure on already fragile health systems.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday (17 March) announced that he is postponing a highly anticipated trip to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, citing the war with Iran as the main disruption to efforts to ease tensions between the world’s two largest economies.
A series of severe storms, blizzards and tornadoes on Monday disrupted life across much of the U.S., leaving more than 12,500 flights delayed or cancelled and forcing schools, federal offices and communities to take emergency precautions.
China’s international trade representative has said Beijing and Washington have reached a “preliminary consensus” on some key issues following their latest round of talks in Paris, offering a cautious sign of progress in a relationship long marked by tension and uncertainty.
Chile’s newly inaugurated president, José Antonio Kast, has taken his first major step on immigration, launching plans for a fortified barrier along the country’s northern border just days after entering office.
A Russian drone attack damaged industrial, port, and energy infrastructure in Ukraine's southern Odesa region overnight. The strikes disrupted power supplies in several settlements, prompting local authorities to switch critical facilities to backup power generators.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment