OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is planning a visit to India in mid-February, marking his first trip to the country in nearly a year, according to sources familiar with the matter. The visit coincides with New Delhi’s hosting of the India AI Impact Summit 2026, a high-profile event running from February 16 to 20 that is expected to bring together top global AI leaders. While Altman is not yet listed as an official attendee, OpenAI is organizing a series of closed-door meetings and a dedicated event in New Delhi on February 19, targeting venture capitalists, industry executives, and technology partners. The summit will feature prominent figures such as Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, alongside Indian business leaders like Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani. In addition to Altman’s expected presence, other U.S. tech firms are also scheduling side events. Anthropic is holding a developer-focused day in Bengaluru on February 16, while Nvidia is planning an evening gathering in New Delhi during the summit week, though the company has not confirmed details. Altman’s trip, which has not been officially announced, could still change. However, it underscores growing interest from leading AI companies in India’s rapidly expanding tech ecosystem. India has become the largest market for ChatGPT by downloads and the second-largest by user base, yet OpenAI continues to face challenges in converting this widespread usage into paid subscriptions. To address this, the company launched a lower-cost “ChatGPT Go” plan under $5 and offered a free year-long trial to boost adoption. OpenAI has been actively hiring in India over the past year, with roles in enterprise sales, technical deployment, and AI regulation across New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. The company is also exploring India as a potential hub for future infrastructure expansion. While major cloud providers like Google and Microsoft have committed billions to build data centers and AI infrastructure in India, the country faces hurdles such as inconsistent power supply, high energy costs, and water scarcity—issues that could slow down large-scale development. Despite these challenges, the Indian government sees the summit as a pivotal moment to attract up to $100 billion in AI investment. It is also encouraging domestic startups to develop smaller, region-specific AI models to reduce dependence on U.S.-based systems. OpenAI is expected to meet with Indian tech executives, startup founders, and government officials during the visit, aiming to deepen enterprise adoption of its products while expanding its reach across education, media, and other sectors.