Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s chief, Sam Altman, is set to visit India next week, according to three sources familiar with the matter. Sam Altman plans an India visit to engage with government officials and industry leaders in New Delhi. The visit, expected on February 5, will mark his first trip to the country in nearly two years. Sources indicate that Altman may hold discussions with government officials in New Delhi. However, his itinerary is not finalized, and changes remain possible.
Legal Hurdles for OpenAI in India
Amid ongoing legal battles, Sam Altman plans India visit as OpenAI faces copyright lawsuits in the country. OpenAI has been facing legal battles in India over copyright concerns. A lawsuit filed by the news agency ANI accuses the company of copyright violations. The case, currently being heard in a New Delhi court, has drawn support from book publishers and digital media groups, including firms owned by industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani.
OpenAI maintains that its data usage adheres to fair use principles and argues that Indian courts lack jurisdiction over the matter. The company has not issued an official statement on Altman’s visit. The Indian IT ministry and the Prime Minister’s Office have also remained silent on the issue.
Lawsuit Filed in New Delhi Court
Indian news agency ANI has taken legal action against OpenAI, alleging unauthorized use of its published content to train ChatGPT. The lawsuit, filed in a New Delhi court, claims OpenAI used ANI’s proprietary content without permission. OpenAI, however, maintains that it has stopped using ANI’s material for training its AI models.
ANI joins a growing list of media companies suing OpenAI over copyright concerns. Similar lawsuits have been filed in the United States by major newspapers, including The New York Times and The Chicago Tribune. The first hearing in the case took place on Tuesday in the Delhi High Court. The court has issued a notice to OpenAI, directing it to submit a detailed response to ANI’s claims.
Concerns Over Fabricated News
ANI has accused ChatGPT of generating and attributing false news reports to the agency. In its court filing, ANI argues that OpenAI continues to store its content in ChatGPT’s memory without any programmed deletion. The filing also includes emails from OpenAI’s legal team in India, confirming that ANI’s website was placed on an internal block list in September to prevent further use of its content.
OpenAI has denied allegations of copyright infringement. A spokesperson stated that the company builds AI models using publicly available data, following fair use principles and legal precedents. OpenAI and other tech firms have faced multiple lawsuits from authors, artists, and music publishers over similar copyright disputes.
ANI claims that OpenAI has refused to obtain a valid license for using its content. The news agency has also raised concerns about unfair competition, pointing out that OpenAI has commercial agreements with other media outlets for content distribution. The legal battle highlights ongoing tensions between AI firms and content creators over intellectual property rights.
India: A Key Market for OpenAI
Sources confirm that Sam Altman plans an India visit on February 5, though the schedule remains subject to change. India ranks as OpenAI’s second-largest market by user numbers, following the United States. During Altman’s last visit in 2023, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the role of AI in India’s technology ecosystem. The upcoming visit is expected to draw attention amid growing scrutiny of AI’s impact on copyright and intellectual property rights.
In a separate development, the global tech industry saw a major upheaval after the rise of Chinese AI competitor DeepSeek. The company’s AI assistant has overtaken ChatGPT as the top-rated free app on Apple’s U.S. App Store. This sudden shift has triggered a wave of market uncertainty, further intensifying competition in the AI sector.
