OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is in Delhi, India, for the company's DevDay, emphasizing the country's growing role in the global AI ecosystem. Altman, who previously expressed skepticism about India's ability to compete in building foundational models, now acknowledges the country's progress in AI development, particularly in the area of distillation, which allows for smaller, more efficient models.
Altman highlighted India's potential to be a leader in AI, particularly in sectors like healthcare and education, where AI can address critical issues. He also discussed OpenAI's recent release of deep research, a new capability in ChatGPT that allows for independent multi-step research on the internet. This feature, Altman believes, can significantly boost efficiency in various tasks.
Altman's visit coincides with India's growing AI ambitions. Ola chief Bhavish Aggarwal recently announced Krutrim AI Lab and the launch of several open-source AI models tailored to India's unique linguistic and cultural landscape. The IndiaAI Mission, a national initiative, aims to foster AI innovation by democratizing computing access, enhancing data quality, and developing indigenous AI capabilities.