Another U.S. tech giant trying to crack the Indian market. OpenAI is riding the wave with ChatGPT, boasting about India being its fastest-growing market. But here’s the tea ☕: while Indians are downloading the app like it’s the latest meme, they’re not exactly rushing to pay for it. Looks great, but does it work? for OpenAI’s wallet?
According to SensorTower, Indian users have spent a mere $8 million on ChatGPT subscriptions via in-app purchases since 2023. Compare that to the U.S.’s $330 million, and you’ve got yourself a classic case of ‘viral doesn’t always mean profitable’. Maybe it’s the $20/month price tag that’s more expensive than a month of chai for the average Indian? Just a thought.
But hey, OpenAI isn’t giving up. They’re eyeing a partnership with Reliance Jio, because if there’s one thing that gets Indians excited, it’s a good ol’ collab. Plus, with over 950 million internet users, India’s too big to ignore. And let’s not forget the recent Ghibli-style art generator that went viral. Because nothing says ‘growth’ like anime-loving users downloading your app en masse.
So, will India be OpenAI’s golden goose? Only time will tell. But for now, it’s a classic tale of high adoption, low monetization. Dark mode in hell, indeed.
