OpenAI’s India hello hides risks

As OpenAI eyes India expansion, a Gojek co-founder's name reemerges in the Chromebook scandal, reviving our July piece's relevance.

Read from your browser Daily Newsletter Welcome to Tech in Asia's daily newsletter, your essential dose of Asia's tech and startup buzz. Not yet a subscriber? Register here. Got a story tip? Send it to editors@techinasia.com. IN FOCUS Why OpenAI's expansion to India matters What you might have missed in the Chromebook case shaking up Indonesia Hello Betamax, A year ago, OpenAI's entire India presence could fit on a single desk: one employee, one laptop, and probably one overworked coffee mug. Fast forward to today, and there's suddenly a spike in job listings for the company's operations in the country. There are also big office plans in Delhi, cheap ChatGPT subscription tiers, and even whispers of a data center locally. CEO Sam Altman himself is expected to visit India, which hints that some serious business is about to happen. Why all the fuss, though? The country is already OpenAI's second-largest user market, and Altman believes it could soon be the biggest. In my story, I suggest that this is an exciting time for AI in India - unless you are a local startup watching an AI heavyweight move into your turf. Companies like Sarvam AI and Ola's Krutrim, for instance, have been working on vernacular models and deep tech capabilities, carving out niches that speak to the country's unique needs. They may feel the squeeze if ChatGPT becomes more localized. On the flipside, there are those who believe OpenAI's India expansion will uplift the country's tech ecosystem. Now the question is this: Will homegrown AI startups see this as collaboration, competition, or a little bit of both? Indeed, the AI scene in India is getting a lot hotter. Who shines and who burns out will soon be clear. Samreen Ahmad, journalist TOP STORY OpenAI's India expansion may threaten homegrown AI dreams OpenAI's rapid expansion in India marks a turning point for the country's AI landscape. It will be bringing global scale, fresh investment, and competition that could reshape both startups and legacy IT giants. At the same time, it raises questions about jobs, data use, and regulation. The story highlights whether India will become OpenAI's biggest success story or the toughest market it has to fight in. One thing is clear, however: India is becoming central to the global AI economy. FROM OUR ARCHIVES Indonesia's Chromebook corruption probe, in visuals In July, Tech in Asia told the story of Indonesia's US$608 million Chromebook procurement program via visuals. It was a project meant to modernize classrooms but was instead mired in allegations of inflated prices and questionable choices. Four people were charged at the time, but former education minister and Gojek co-founder Nadiem Makarim wasn't one of them. But that has changed. Indonesia's Attorney General has now named Makarim a suspect in the case, which can threaten his legacy as one of the country's most prominent tech figures. Dive deep into the world of 3D printing - and beyond In partnership with You're likely aware of 3D printing and all the cool stuff you can do with the tech. What you might not know is it's also called additive manufacturing (AM), and an entire event dedicated to it is coming up. Organized by the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster, the Global AM Summit is Singapore's flagship annual conference on AM. It'll bring together global thought leaders, innovators, and industry experts to explore the tech's potential. The event will cover topics such as agile and distributed manufacturing, digital workflows for smart manufacturing, and bridging the gap between innovation and industrialization. It will also offer exciting opportunities for networking and collaboration. The Global AM Summit will take place at the Peridot Rooms, Singapore Expo, from October 16 to 17. Head over to this website to learn more. P.S: The first 30 Tech in Asia readers to buy tickets to the Global AM Summit can get 20% off using the code TIA20. Fastest fingers first! PRESS PEEKS The following press releases were published as they were received, without any editing from the Tech in Asia team. You, too, can publish your own press release on our site by simply filling out this form. Our team will get back to you by the next business day. Hello Clever appoints Kaido Chiwata as head of Japan and global expansion Global Gold announces partnership with the Wyoming Reserve to bring fully allocated, audited gold on-chain Acurast's introduces 'Staked Compute' for smartphone-powered decentralized compute JoggAI Unveils AvatarX: a next-generation AI avatar model GOT A TIP FOR US? 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